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FORT    BIRKETT 


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Indian   Sam  hears  piirsncrs. 


FORT  BIRKETT 

^  Story  of  Mountain  Adventure 


BY 


Edward  W.  Townsend 


W.   J.    RITCHIE,  Publisher 

NEW  YORK  70  FIFTH  AVENUE 

1905 


Other  fVorks  by  the  same  Author : 

CHIMMIE  FADDEN 

A  DAUGHTER  OF  THE  TENEMENTS 

NEAR  A  WHOLE  CITYFUL 

DAYS  LIKE  THESE 

LEES  AND  LEAVEN 

A  SUMMER  IN  NEW  YORK 


,CPPY^IQHT^,  igo3.  by  EDWARD  W.  TOWNSEND 

'  *  "  •  *         ^  {All  rights  reserved) 


To- 
One  Who  Knows  and  Loves  the  Somber  Mystery  of 
Mountains  ; 

The  Joy  of  Danger  ; 

The  Rugged  Hospitality  of  Miners'  Cabins  ; 
The  Hard-Earned  Rest  of  Hunters'  Camps— 
My  Brother, 

GEORGE  TOWNSEND, 

THIS  story  of  mountain  ADVENTURE  IS  AFFECTIONATELY 

dedicated. 

E.  W.  T. 


ivi27il4 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

PAGE 

I. 

The  Man-Hunt,     .... 

I 

II. 

John  Birkett's  Partner,     . 

.     13 

III. 

Turned  from  the  Trail,     . 

.     26 

IV. 

Hammatt's  Meadow,     . 

.     40 

V. 

The  Wounded  Stranger,    . 

.       57 

VI. 

Mr.  Pelham's  Discovery,    . 

.       70 

VII. 

A  Midnight  Desertion, 

84 

VIII. 

Recruits  for  Dick  Rawlins, 

95 

IX. 

Unexpected  Peril, 

109 

X. 

The  Capture  of  Constance, 

12S 

XI. 

Indian  Sam's  Strategy, 

140 

XII. 

The  Adventures  of  Mr.  Pelham,     . 

151 

XIII. 

A  Fair  Hostage,          .        .        .        . 

166 

XIV. 

Lennox  Uses  his  Trophy, 

180 

XV. 

The  Bandits'  New  Leader, 

189 

XVI. 

Sam  Pays  an  Old  Debt,     . 

197 

XVII. 

A  Sortie  from  the  Fort, 

209 

XVIII. 

The  Hunt  for  the  Fugitives, 
vii 

221 

viii  Contents 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XIX.  Sam  Goes  Hunting,    .  .  .        .230 

XX.  Martha  Hammatt's  Captives,  .    239 

XXI.  Parker's  Bag  of  Gold,  .  .        .    250 

XXII.  The  Pursuers  Pursued,  .  .        .258 

XXIII.  A  Fair  Bargain,        .  ,  .        .267 


FORT    BIRKETT 

CHAPTER  I 

THE    MAN-HUNT 

Four  supple,  sunburned  young  men 
lounged  over  the  gate  bars  of  a  loosely  built 
corral,  adjoining  the  rambling  stables  of  a 
foothill  ranch.  Near  by  ran  a  road,  which 
was  broad  and  straight  in  the  valley  below ; 
narrow  and  turning,  here  in  the  hills;  and 
then  became  a  zigzag  trail  where  it  ran  into 
the  mountains  above.  This  road  and  trail 
made  travel  possible,  during  part  of  the  year, 
from  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  of  California 
over  the  Sierra  Mountains,  into  a  mining 
region  of  Nevada.  Although  it  was  now  the 
middle  of  June  no  party  had  gone  into  the 
mountains  as  far  as  the  divide,  on  account 


2  Fort  Birkett 

oi  snow ;  but  some  prospectors  had  reported 
the  trail  open,  even  on  its  highest  point. 

There  was  no  suggestion  of  snow  at 
Anderson's  ranch;  none  in  the  warm,  per- 
fumed air  of  the  early  morning ;  none  in  the 
suave  slopes  of  the  foothills,  already  ex- 
changing their  green  mantle  of  winter  for 
the  golden  garb  of  summer;  none  in  the 
lightly  clothed  loungers,  watching  "  Old 
Man  "  Anderson  and  his  son,  Sid,  packing 
the  outfit  of  a  party  about  to  start  over  the 
trail.  The  "  party  "  consisted  of  a  middle- 
aged  man,  and  a  youth,  who  were  now  curi- 
ously noting  the  nice  economy  of  space,  and 
distribution  of  weight,  with  which  the  bun- 
dles of  their  outfit  were  adjusted  on  the  pack 
saddles  of  three  horses. 

"Ain't  Sid  going  to  take  a  pack?"  in- 
quired one  of  the  loungers  at  the  gate. 

"  No,"  answered  another.  "  Sid  '11  carry 
his  blanket  and  rifle,  and  grub  off  the 
Easterners." 

"  He'll  grub  on  jam  and  tea,  then,"  com- 


The  Man-Hunt  3 

mented  a  third.  "  I  never  see  the  like  of  the 
old  gent  of  the  party;  he's  stowed  tea  in 
every  package  of  the  outfit.  I  heerd  him  ask 
the  Old  Man  if  he  couldn't  leave  out  one  side 
of  bacon  and  put  some  more  tea  in  its  place. 
*  Ye  kin  if  ye  likes,'  says  the  Old  Man,  '  but 
v^ater  '11  do,  if  ye  run  short  of  tea.  Water 
won't  do  for  bacon,  though,'  says  the  Old 
Man.'' 

The  story  was  received  with  lazy  laughs, 
as  the  loungers  watched  the  workers  with 
the  interest  of  experts ;  rolling  cigarettes  the 
while  without  diverting  their  eyes  from  the 
scene  in  the  corral. 

*'  The  young  un  knows  a  horse,"  one  re- 
marked, after  filling  his  huge  lungs  with 
smoke  which  casually  escaped  through  lips 
and  nostrils  as  he  talked.  "  Sid  give  him 
that  buckskin — the  broncho  the  Old  Man 
traded  off  the  Greaser,  for  the  casks  of  claret 
— ^and,  say,  he  rode  him,  all  right." 

"  With  long  stirrups,  too,"  another  critic 
added  with  serious  approval.    ''  He's  a  husky 


4  Fort  Birkett 

hunk  of  a  chap,  that  young  un  is.  Sid  says 
he's  one  of  these  here  college  mining  experts. 
He's  going  over  to  report  on  the  Nevada 
borax  deposit,  for  the  English  company  that 
has  bonded  it.  The  other  is  the  company's 
New  York  lawyer;  a  top-notcher,  the  Old 
Man  says.  He  fetched  a  letter  from  the 
San  Francisco  lawyer  who  won  out  the  Old 
Man's  claim  agin  the  railroad  company. 
That's  why  the  Old  Man  is  sending  Sid  over 
with  'em,  instead  of  one  of  us." 

The  San  Francisco  lawyer's  letter  had  in- 
troduced DeWitt  Pelham,  and  Vanderlyn 
Lennox — the  latter  fresh  from  his  studies  in 
the  science  of  mining — and  both  New 
Yorkers  had  made  themselves  popular  with 
the  people  of  the  ranch  in  their  short  visit. 

So,  in  the  early  morning  of  their  start, 
Old  Man  Anderson  cheerfully  helped  with 
the  task  of  reducing,  and  packing,  the  out- 
fit. When  final  selections  and  rejections  were 
made,  the  last  package  adjusted,  the  last  rope 
cinched  until  the  burdened  animals  grunted 


The  Man-Hunt  5 

rebelliously,  good-bys  exchanged,  and  the 
travelers  mounted,  the  Old  Man  suddenly 
turned  and  gazed  sharply  down  the  road. 
All  eyes  followed  his,  and  were  fixed  on  a 
swirl  of  dust,  whose  extent  told  that  a  num- 
ber of  horsemen  were  advancing  at  hot  pace. 
Mr.  Pelham  and  Lennox  wondered  at  the 
concern  with  which  those  about  them  bent 
their  looks  upon  the  approaching  riders. 
Anderson  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"  Sheriff  Rumrill !  "  he  cried,  and  ex- 
changed glances  of  startled  interest  with  his 
son  and  the  cowboys  who  had  joined  the 
group  in  the  corral.  No  other  word  was 
spoken  until  the  sheriff  and  four  companions 
checked  their  horses  at  the  gate. 

"Anyone  pass  here  last  night?"  called 
out  the  sheriff. 

"  Not  as  I  heerd,"  Anderson  replied. 

"Any  of  your  horses  missing?"  next 
asked  the  sheriff  after  a  moment's  pause, 
while  he  looked  searchingly  at  the  travelers. 

"  No,"  answered  the  Old  Man.     Then  he 


6  Fort  Birkett 

asked,  in  a  voice  which  seemed  to  express 
the  combined  interest  of  all  the  listeners, 
"What  is  it.  Sheriff?" 

"  Evanson  and  Taggert !  "  the  sheriff  re- 
sponded. 

"  Again  ?  "  cried  Anderson  excitedly ;  and 
his  companions  showed  that  they  shared  his 
feelings. 

"  South-bound  through  train,  last  night," 
Sheriff  Rumrill  replied;  and  added  partic- 
ulars to  which  his  hearers  listened  eagerly: 
"  Blew  open  the  Express  safe.  Twenty 
thousand  dollars.  Registered  mail,  too. 
Don't  know  how  much.  Express  messenger 
killed.  Fireman  badly  wounded.  County 
offers  five  thousand  reward — dead  or  alive. 
Company  another  five.  State  probably  offer 
as  much.  United  States  as  much  more,  cer- 
tain. Fm  off  with  these  boys  for  the  South 
Fork  trail,  and  need  more  for  the  North 
Fork,  and  the  Main  Pass." 

No  one  moved  or  stirred  as  the  sheriff 
jerked  out  this  first  thrilling  news  of  the 


The  Man-Hunt  7 

last,  and  most  famous,  Evanson  and  Tag- 
gert  train  robbery.  But,  as  the  speaker 
ceased,  the  cowboys  dashed  from  the  corral, 
and  soon  hurried  back,  carrying  saddles  and 
rifles.  As  they  caught  and  bridled  horses, 
Sid  looked  appealingly  at  his  father;  but 
Anderson  shook  his  head. 

"  No,  Sid,"  he  said,  "  a  contract's  a  con- 
tract. IVe  contracted  to  send  you  over  the 
trail  with  this  party." 

The  sheriff's  disappointment  at  the  words 
seemed  as  great  as  the  boy's.  "  I'd  like  to 
have  Sid  go  with  us,  Old  Man,"  he  said. 
*'  He  did  good  work  last  time,  and  got  a 
thousand  of  the  reward." 

"  Oh,  dad,"  urged  the  young  man,  "  it 
would  be  mighty  rough  on  me  not  to  be  in 
this  round-up.  Even  if  I  don't  get  any  of 
the  reward,  I'll  be  in  the  man-hunt — and 
what  hunting  is  like  that  ?  " 

"  'Tain't  no  use  talking,  Sid,"  his  father 
replied.  "  Why,  Sheriff,"  he  added,  "  these 
gentlemen  have  passed  me  money  on  a  con- 


8  Fort  Birkett 

tract.  More'n  that,  they're  particular 
friends  of  my  lawyer." 

Pointing  to  the  cowboys  fastening  blanket 
rolls  to  saddles,  buckling  on  cartridge  belts, 
feverishly  preparing  to  join  the  hunt — the 
man-hunt! — he  added,  "  See,  there  ain't  no 
one  I  can  send  with  the  party  in  Sid's  place, 
or  I'd  let  him  go  with  you.  He's  got  to 
guide  the  party;  that  settles  it." 

Both  Sid  and  the  sheriff  knew  that  that 
did  settle  it,  and  the  latter  asked,  "  Then 
can't  you  come  along  with  me  yourself,  Old 
Man?" 

"No,  he  can't!" 

This  emphatic  veto  was  uttered  by  Mrs. 
Anderson,  who  had  hurried  from  the  kitchen 
at  the  sound  of  the  furious  riding  up  the 
road.  "  I  should  think  you  might  remember 
something,  Sheriff  Rumrill,"  she  added;  and 
the  six-footer  she  defiantly  faced,  the  bravest 
officer  that  ever  hunted  man  in  the  moun- 
tains, showed  that  he  wished  he  had  not 
drawn  this  fire.     "  You  might  remember," 


The  Man-Hunt  9 

Mrs.  Anderson  continued,  "  that  the  Old 
Man  and  Sid  went  the  last  time,  and  left  me 
alone.  What  happened?  Alec  Bunker's 
gang  raided  me  one  night,  and  stole  horses ; 
Dick  Rawlins'  gang  raided  me  another  night, 
and  stole  horses.  D'ye  think  we  breed 
horses  for  mountain  bandits  to  steal?  " 

"  But  you  wounded  one  of  'em,"  remarked 
the  sheriff  in  a  conciliatory  tone. 

''Yes,"  assented  Mrs.  Anderson,  some- 
what mollified  by  this  reference  to  her 
prowess,  '*  and  I'd  wounded  a  dozen  on  'em, 
if  these  here  pesky,  new-fashioned  rifles 
didn't  have  more  machinery  than  a  six-horse 
wheat-header.  The  Old  Man  '11  stay  to 
home,  if  you  please,  Sheriff  Rumrill." 

"The  Old  Woman's  in  her  rights,  I 
guess,"  Anderson  commented,  nodding 
gravely  to  the  sheriff. 

Pelham  and  Lennox  sat  their  horses  in 
silence  during  this  talk;  the  elder  with  in- 
creasing wonder,  the  younger  with  an  eager 
interest  that  had  some  furtive  longing  in  it, 


lo  Fort  Birkett 

as  he  watched  the  preparations  for  the  hunt. 
Now,  when  Mrs.  Anderson  began  serving 
all  the  huntsmen  with  hot  coffee,  Mr.  Pelham 
said  in  a  puzzled  tone,  "  May  I  ask  what 
really  is  the  matter — ^the  purpose  of  this 
armed  expedition?  " 

"  Sir,"  replied  the  sheriff,  "  I've  got  to 
run  down  two  of  the  most  desperate  robbers 
that  ever  held  up  a  train." 

"  And  with  the  addition  of  these  young 
men  who  are  preparing  to  join  you,  you 
number  nine.     Why  do  you  need  more  ?  " 

"  Because,''  said  the  sheriff,  looking  at  the 
lawyer  in  surprise,  "  if  Evanson  and  Tag- 
gert  get  into  the  mountains  ahead  of  me 
I'll  have  a  bad  gang  of  their  sympathizers 
to  fight." 

"  Sympathizers  ?  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Pelham 
indignantly.  ''  Sympathizers  with  train 
robbers?     I  don't  understand,  sir." 

"  All  mountain  folks — or  mostly  all — 
sympathize  with  Evanson  and  Taggert," 
explained  Anderson.       "  And  some  valley 


The  Man-Hunt  ii 

folks,  too,"  he  added  significantly.  "  But 
I  don't.  I'm  agin  the  railroad  company, 
of  course.  Everybody  is.  Naturally  we 
be,  because  the  company  robs  us.  But  I'm 
not  agin  the  law.  I  fight  with  the  law,  and 
believe  in  the  law." 

**Sir,"  said  Mr.  Pelham,  "  your  sentiments 
are  those  of  a  good  citizen,  and  I'm  aston- 
ished that  they're  not  shared  by  your  neigh- 
bors." 

Anderson  and  the  sheriff  exchanged 
knowing  glances. 

"  I  trust,  sir,"  continued  Mr.  Pelham, 
"  that  this  amazing  state  of  affairs  does  not 
constitute  a  danger  to  us,  in  our  proposed 
trip." 

"  Of  course  not,"  exclaimed  Lennox,  who 
had  shown  increased  pleasure  in  the  pros- 
pect of  the  trip,  since  its  danger  had  been 
suggested. 

"  These  mountain  gangs  don't  trouble 
travelers  much,"  the  sheriff  said.  "  A  pack 
carrying  a  bullion  shipment  isn't  none  too 


12  Fort  Birkett 

safe  with  'em;  and,  if  stock  is  scarce,  why, 
hunters  and  miners  who  go  into  the  moun- 
tains horseback,  sometimes  come  out  on  foot. 
But  I  reckon  we'll  keep  'em  too  busy  looking 
out  for  us  to  leave  'em  much  time  to  bother 
you." 

"  Anyway,"  said  Lennox,  "  Sid  and  I 
will  be  armed." 

"  To  be  sure,"  assented  Mr.  Pelham,  "  and 
I,  if  need  be,  can  threaten  them  with  the  law." 

"Well,  boys,  are  you  ready?"  called  out 
the  sheriff. 

They  were  now  ready;  all  their  lounging 
listlessness  departed;  in  its  stead  a  fierce 
energy  that  blood-flushed  their  thin,  tanned 
faces;  ready,  mounted,  sitting  with  easy 
seairity  their  plunging  horses.  At  a  word 
from  their  leader,  the  enlarged  posse  dashed 
up  the  road,  making  to  the  right,  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  southern  trail,  at  the  first  cross- 
ing. Off  on  the  hunt!  and  no  animal,  not 
the  wildest,  the  fiercest,  insures  to  the  hunter 
the  danger,  the  excitement  of  the  man-hunt ! 


CHAPTER  II 

JOHN    BIRKETT's   partner 

Soon  after  the  departure  of  the  sheriff 
the  Easterners  and  their  guide  set  forth  at 
a  more  sober  pace,  the  patient  pack  animals 
swinging  along  slowly  in  the  lead.  Sid  cast 
a  longing  glance  at  the  turn  where  the  posse 
had  gone  south,  and  sighed  as  he  remarked 
to  Lennox,  '*  Well,  they  are  out  for  sport, 
and  Fm  out  for  business." 

''  Oh,"  laughed  Lennox,  amused  at  the 
young  man's  idea  of  sport,  although  he 
would  have  joined  the  hunt  had  it  not  been 
for  Mr.  Pelham's  presence,  "  we  must  try 
to  make  our  trip  partly  sport.  I  suppose  we 
may  find  some  game." 

"  Bears,"  replied  Sid. 

Mr.  Pelham,  who  was  mounted  on  a  staid 
13 


14  Fort  Birkett 

old  animal,  more  used  to  dragging  a  cultiva- 
tor between  rows  of  vines  than  to  saddle 
work,  exclaimed  w^ith  joy  at  the  frequent 
shifting  of  foothill  scenery  caused  by  the 
winding  of  the  trail. 

"  Nature,"  he  declared,  "  is  indeed  a 
kindly  mother.  She  shows  her  love  for 
even  those  who  desert  her.  We  have  but  to 
return,  to  be  rewarded  with  renewed  youth." 

"  Then  Mother  Nature  does  better  by  you 
if  you  vamoose  the  ranch,  than  if  you  just 
stick  to  the  plow,"  commented  Sid.  ''  I 
reckon,  sir,  my  dad  isn't  much  older  than 
you,  but  I  can't  remember  when  he  wasn't 
called  '  Old  Man  ' — and  looked  it,  too — 
while  you  look  as  cocky  as  a  mountain 
quail." 

"  Young  man,"  retorted  the  lawyer  po- 
litely, "  I'm  gratified  that  my  appearance 
suggests  a  comparison  so  picturesque." 

Late  that  afternoon  they  made  camp  on 
a  gravelly  shelf  above  a  creek  of  some  size, 
and  Lennox  was  taking  trout  from  its  clear 


John  Birketts  Partner       15 

water,  Mr.  Pelham  brewing  tea,  before  the 
guide  had  wholly  unloaded  the  packs. 

*'  Say,"  remarked  Sid,  joining  Lennox, 
when  the  unladen  animals  were  picketed  on 
the  grassy  bank  above  the  shelf,  '^  I've  run 
across  some  tea  in  every  package  I've 
opened.  Going  to  have  tea  or  coffee  for  sup- 
per?" 

'^  Coffee  for  you  and  me,  with  corn-bread, 
bacon,  and  these  trout,"  Lennox  replied. 

Their  next  day's  journey  lay  through 
lightly  wooded  foothills,  but  on  the  following 
morning  they  ascended  bolder  slopes,  whose 
heavier  timber,  deeper  canons,  and  sharper 
spurs  gave  promise  of  the  mighty  peaks  to 
come.  On  the  third  afternoon  camp  was 
made  in  an  open  park  which  lay  a  few  hun- 
dred yards  off  the  trail,  but  in  sight  of  it,  on 
the  bank  of  a  little  lake. 

The  guide  was  busy  about  the  camp-fire, 
Mr.  Pelham  indifferently  engaged  with  rod 
and  line,  an  open  book  by  his  side,  and  Len- 
nox starting  off  with  his  rifle,  when  a  man, 


1 6  Fort  Birkett 

riding  an  unkempt  little  broncho,  and  leading 
another,  came  around  a  turn  in  the  trail, 
noted  the  camp,  stopped,  and  hallooed.  The 
signal  was  answered  promptly  and  with 
much  interest  by  Sid;  and  the  others  re- 
garded with  some  curiosity  the  first  person 
they  had  met  in  their  three-days'  journey. 
All  went  out  to  meet  the  stranger,  and 
after  greetings,  and  inquiries  concerning  the 
condition  of  the  trail  further  up,  Mr.  Pelham 
said  cordially,  "  Will  you  not  come  over  to 
our  camp?  " 

"  Thank  ye,  sir,  thank  ye,"  replied  the 
stranger.  '*  It's  right  pleasant  to  meet  any- 
one up  here.  If  ye've  no  objections,  I'll 
camp  near  by." 

He  took  his  saddle  and  led-horse  to  a 
wooded  point  on  the  lake  shore,  picketed 
them,  and  walked  slowly  back  to  the  camp. 
He  was  as  uncombed  and  uncouth  in  appear- 
ance as  his  bronchos ;  but  attractive,  because 
of  kindly,  clear  blue  eyes,  and  a  singularly 
musical  voice. 


John  Birkett's  Partner        17 

"  Some  of  your  party  went  on  ahead  last 
night,  I  reckon,"  he  said,  curiously  watch- 
ing Mr.  Pelham  make  tea. 

''  No.  We  only  started  out  with  three," 
replied  Sid,  to  whom  the  remark  meant  more 
than  to  the  others. 

''  Another  party  passed  ye,  then,"  the 
stranger  added. 

*'  No  one  has  passed  us  since  we  left  the 
ranch — Anderson's  ranch,"  Sid  answered, 
with  increased  interest. 

''  I  didn't  see  'em,"  the  stranger  said. 
*'  It  was  dark,  and  I  was  lying  some  to  the 
side  of  the  trail;  but,  j edging  from  the 
sound,  thar  was  three  riders,  and  no  packs. 
They  was  making  time,  too.  I  won 
dered  " 

*'  How  far  up  were  you  ?  "  interrupted  Sid. 

"  Twelve  or  fifteen  miles.  That's  all  I've 
made  to-day." 

"  Then,  as  they  didn't  pass  us,  they  struck 
into  the  trail  between  us  and  where  you 
camped,"  Sid  asserted. 


1 8  Fort  Birkett 

"From  the  south,"  the  stranger  said; 
"  the  country  north  is  too  rough  for 
horses." 

''  From  the  South  Fork  trail,"  Sid  said. 
"  There  is  snow  on  that,  high  up.  Someone 
was  mighty  anxious  to  get  into  the  moun- 
tains, and  cut  across  rough  country  to  do 
it." 

Sid  and  the  stranger  w^ere  regarding  each 
other  with  earnest  speculation,  when  sud- 
denly both  jumped  to  their  feet,  alert  to 
some  sound  the  others  did  not  hear.  But 
soon  the  Easterners,  too,  heard  a  medley  of 
noises;  horses'  hoofs  beating  on  granite,  a 
sharp  voice  of  command,  the  occasional  fret- 
ful cry  of  dogs,  and  there  came  into  view  a 
half-dozen  armed  men,  two  of  them  Apache 
Indians,  one  in  charge  of  a  pair  of  blood- 
hounds. As  the  leader  discovered  the  camp- 
ers, he  swung  his  rifle  into  readiness. 

"It's  all  right,  Sheriff,"  Sid  shouted. 
"  I'm  Sid  Anderson,  and  this  is  my 
party." 


John  Birkett's  Partner        19 

Sheriff  Rumrill  spoke  to  his  followers, 
who  halted ;  then  he  rode  over  to  the  camp. 
After  putting  a  few  questions  to  Sid,  whose 
answers  threw  no  light  on  a  matter  which 
seemed  to  be  puzzling  the  sheriff,  he  turned 
to  the  stranger  and  said  sharply: 

"  Now,  you  are  John  Birkett,  I  guess. '* 

"Thet's  my  name,  Sheriff,"  replied  Bir- 
kett. "  Ye  hev  a  good  rec'lection,  for  we 
hev'n't  met  in  twenty  years." 

**  Never  mind  the  twenty  years ;  where  are 
you  from  now?  Where  were  you  last 
night?" 

"  Up  the  trail ;  a  day's  pack." 

"  Then  it's  your  track  we  cut  into  five 
miles  up ! "  exclaimed  the  Sheriff  in  dis- 
gust. 

''  Like  ez  not,"  responded  Birkett  calmly. 

"  But  Birkett  heard  someone  last  night," 
Sid  interrupted  impatiently. 

"Why  didn't  you  say  so?"  Rumrill 
asked  Birkett  angrily. 

"  I  didn't  know  ye  wanted  to  know.     I 


20  Fort  Birkett 

never  allowed  I  ken  see  further  into  a  rock 
than  the  pick  goes.  If  ye  followed  a  track 
of  three  riders  across  from  the  south,  over 
to  this  trail,  you'd  hev  come  up  with  'em  by 
going  up,  'sted  of  coming  downi.  Maybe 
your  dogs,  and  Injuns,  and  city  detectives 
took  the  trail  of  one  rider,  and  one  pack  ani- 
mal, 'sted  of  three  riders." 

Birkett  gave  this  rebuke  in  a  quiet  voice, 
but  it  was  evident  that  he  was  hurt  by  the 
manner  of  the  sheriff's  questions  as  to  his  re- 
cent whereabouts.  Rumrill  flushed,  and 
said :  *'  I  meant  no  offense  to  you,  John 
Birkett,  but  I'm  all  riled  up  by  losing  the 
scent.    I'll  speak  to  you  alone,  if  you  please." 

They  stepped  aside,  and  Birkett  informed 
the  sheriff  minutely  as  to  the  clew  he  pos- 
sessed of  the  three  riders  the  sheriff  had 
pursued  across  rough  country  from  the 
South  Fork  trail,  only  to  take  up  a  wrong 
scent  on  the  North  trail.  Then  Rumrill 
urged  Birkett  to  join  the  pursuing  party,  but 
the  old  man  resolutely  declined. 


John  Birkett's  Partner       21 

When  they  returned  to  Mr.  Pelham  and 
his  companions,  the  sheriff  said  to  the  law- 
yer, "You  mustn't  think,  sir,  I  had  any 
suspicion  of  this  man,  John  Birkett ;  I  know 
of  him  well  as  an  honest  prospector  and 
miner.  I'm  sorry  he  can't  come  with 
me." 

He  paused,  looking  at  Sid,  and  then  added, 
"  I  wish  you  could  let  me  have  Anderson's 
boy.  I  left  my  own  men  on  the  South  trail, 
running  down  another  clew,  and  have  only 
this  outfit " — he  glanced  contemptuously  at 
his  followers — ''  that  the  company  sent  up 
to  me.    Sid's  worth  a  dozen  of  'em." 

''  Truly,"  responded  Mr.  Pelham,  "  I  dis- 
like to  withhold  any  aid  from  you ;  but  you 
don't  need  to  be  told  how  utterly  we'd  be 
lost,  without  a  guide." 

"  You  can  find  your  way  back  now.  I'd 
rather  lose  a  leg  than  miss  this,"  pleaded 
Sid,  his  eyes  lighting  with  excitement. 

"  If  my  objections  are  not  enough,"  Mr. 
Pelham   rejoined,    somewhat   severely,    ''I 


22  Fort  Birkett 

remind  you  that  your  father  refused  to  let 
you  go  with  the  sheriff,  unless  we  had 
another  guide." 

*' Excuse  me,"  said  Birkett  softly;  "if 
ye  are  in  no  hurry,  I'll  take  ye  over  the  pass. 
I  must  go  to  the  valley,  first,  but  I  ken  be 
back  in  three  days." 

Mr.  Pelham  looked  at  Lennox,  who  nod- 
ded assent,  realizing  that  to  go  on  with  Sid 
would  be  to  have  a  discontented  guide.  Five 
minutes  later,  Sid,  riding  light  was  off  with 
the  man-hunters. 

Lennox  strolled  alone  to  the  lake,  not 
daring  yet  to  join  his  friend,  and  Birkett, 
by  the  camp-fire,  lest  his  regret  that  he,  too, 
could  not  join  the  pursuit  should  be  dis- 
closed to  Mr.  Pelham.  But  an  hour  with 
rod  and  line,  and  that  occupation  which  the 
benign  Walton  saith  is  "  a  calmer  of  un- 
quiet thoughts,  a  moderator  of  passion  "  sent 
him  to  the  camp-fire  in  mood  to  sympathize 
with  Mr.  Pelham's  serene  pleasure  in  his 
surroundings. 


John  Birketts  Partner       23 

"  You  must  bring  your  pack  over  here 
and  camp  with  us,"  Mr.  Pelham  was  saying, 
as  Birkett,  with  patient  amiabihty,  emptied 
his  tin  cup  of  the  tea  with  which  it  was  again 
and  again  refilled  by  the  lawyer. 

"  If  ye  don't  object,  Fll  camp  a  leetle 
aside,"  Birkett  answered.  He  turned  his 
face  away  for  a  moment,  then,  looking  at 
the  others  with  a  sorrowful  smile,  added, 
''  My  pack  is  my  pardner." 

"  Your  partner?  "  they  exclaimed  aghast. 

"  Tom  Matthews,  gentlemen.  He  died 
yesterday.  Tom  and  me,"  he  continued 
quietly,  in  response  to  the  others'  looks  of 
inquiry,  *'  Tom  and  me  hev  bin  prospecting 
and  mining  together  for  twenty  years.  We 
never  quarreled  over  a  lucky  strike ;  we  never 
quarreled  when  luck  was  hard  and  grub 
was  low.  We  made  an  agreement  once, 
each  w^ith  the  other,  and  both  together, 
thet  the  one  who  lived  after  the  other  died 
should  take  the  body  of  the  late  departed — 
which  was  the  terms  we  used — and  bury  it 


24  Fort  Birkett 

within  the  sound  of  a  church  bell.  Not  thet 
we  was  much  on  church-going.  We  was 
mostly  whar  w^e  never  heerd  no  church  bells ; 
nor  no  sound,  except  the  roar  of  mountain 
storms,  the  crash  of  an  av'lanche,  a  falling 
tree,  or  tumbling  boulder.  But  sometimes 
we  used  to  talk  of  a  church  bell  we  both 
heerd  when  we  was  children  together — in  a 
leetle  village  back  East — and  we  allowed  it 
was  the  best  sound  we  could  remember;  so 
we  made  our  agreement,  one  with  the 
other,  and  both  together,  thet  the  one  who 
petered  out  first  should  be  took  by  the 
other  and  buried  within  sound  of  a  church 
bell." 

The  miner  told  his  story  with  slow 
speech;  his  brave  eyes  asked  no  sympathy, 
and  his  listeners  understood,  and  spoke 
none. 

Early  the  next  morning  he  was  away,  and 
at  the  end  of  the  third  day  returned;  his 
horse  showing  the  hard  pace  to  which  it  had 
been  urged.    He  did  not  speak  of  the  partner 


John  Birkett  s  Partner       25 

he  had  placed  at  rest  where  a  church  bell 
could  be  heard,  but,  when  the  campers  wel- 
comed him,  he  gravely  nodded  his  head,  as 
if  in  assurance  that  his  agreement  with  Tom 
Matthews  had  been  fulfilled. 


CHAPTER  III 

TURNED  FROM  THE  TRAIL 

Early  the  next  morning  Birkett  was  busy 
about  the  camp,  preparing  breakfast  with 
but  Httle  use  of  the  many  novel  cuHnary  aids 
he  found  in  the  packs.  He  glanced  from 
time  to  time  at  his  companions,  still  sleeping 
soundly,  and  at  last  muttered :  ''  Guess 
neither  the  Jedge  nor  Colonel  heerd  nothing, 
or  they'd  be  awake  and  asking  questions. 
Like  ez  not  they  didn't.  Hello!  Colonel's 
waking  up  like  a  young  volcano.  What's  he 
going  to  do  now  ?    Hang  me !  " 

This  exclamation  was  caused  by  the  actions 
of  Lennox,  who  sprang  from  his  blankets, 
blinking  at  the  sun's  rays,  nodded  cheerfully 
at  Birkett,  threw  off  his  night  clothes  and 
dashed  into  the  lake,  splashing  and  leaping 
in  its  cold  water  with  joyful  shouts.    When 

26 


Turned  from  the  Trail       27 

he  returned  to  dress,  laughing  and  aglow, 
Birkett  asked :  ''  Sleep  purty  well,  Colo- 
nel?" 

*'  Like  the  rock  of  the  proverb,"  the  young 
man  replied. 

"  And  the  Jedge;  he  slept  well,  too?  " 

"The  Judge?" 

Birkett  indicated  Mr.  Pelham,  who  was 
now  making  more  orderly  ablutions. 

"Oh,  the  Judge,  eh?"  laughed  Lennox. 
"  Yes,  he's  making  up  for  a  life  of  fitful 
slumber." 

"  Then  ye  didn't  hear  nothing  last  night?  " 

"Nothing.     Did  you?" 

"  Well,"  replied  Birkett  thoughtfully, 
after  handing  Lennox  a  tin  of  hot  coffee,  "  I 
heerd  enough  to  know  thet  our  camp  was 
fairly  well  prospected.  Seemed  to  be  two 
on  *em.  Circled  us,  quietly,  being  too  po- 
lite, mebbe,  to  disturb  us,  but  keeping  close 
enough  to  make  sure  none  on  us  done  any 
sleep-walking.  Leetle  before  sun-up  they 
pulled  their  freight — vamoosed." 


28  Fort  Birkett 

"Tramps?"  suggested  Lennox. 

"  Tramps ! "  exclaimed  the  old  man. 
"  Ye  never  find  tramps  whar  free  grub's  ez 
skeerce  ez  it  is  in  these  diggings." 

"  What  then?  "  asked  the  other,  suddenly 
associating  in  his  mind  the  quest  of  the  posse 
and  the  night  visitors. 

"  Can't  say  exactly,"  Birkett  responded. 
"  I  know  we  was  watched  last  night,  and 
likely  are  now.  Thought  I'd  speak  to  ye 
alone,  'thout  worrying  the  Jedge." 

"  That  was  quite  right,"  Lennox  said  hur- 
riedly, seeing  Mr.  Pelham  approach.  "  But 
tell  me  more,  alone,  at  the  first  chance." 

"  We'll  see  what  happens  to-night,"  Bir- 
kett responded ;  and,  having  eaten  his  break- 
fast, he  left  the  others  to  theirs,  while  he 
packed  the  animals  for  the  day's  march.  By 
the  time  all  was  ready  for  the  start,  he  had 
made  up  his  mind  to  suggest  a  change  in 
their  route  without  waiting  for  another 
night's  developments. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  said,  swinging  himself 


Turned  from  the  Trail       29 

into  his  saddle,  after  a  final  inspection  of 
the  packs,  ''  guess  we'd  better  turn  off  whar 
the  sheriff  cut  across,  and  make  a  loop  by  the 
South  trail,  around  Bald  Peak.  We  ken 
fetch  back  into  the  North  trail  t'other  side 
of  the  divide." 

"  But,"  said  Lennox,  "  the  South  trail  is 
the  one  Anderson  spoke  of  as  still  having 
snow  on  it." 

''  Yes,"  assented  Birkett,  "  more'n  likely 
thar  is  snow  thar,  but  ef  the  train-robbers 
got  through  we  ken." 

"Why  change  our  route?"  Mr.  Pelham 
asked  in  surprise. 

"  Well,  Jedge,  we  may  strike  worse  trou- 
ble than  snow  on  this  trail,"  the  guide  an- 
swered. "  Thar  is  not  many  folks  living 
this  far  up,  but  them  ez  do  is  friendlier  to 
the  robbers  than  to  any  posse,  or  any  party 
thet  might  be  mistook  for  a  posse." 

"  Birkett,"  said  Mr.  Pelham  sharply,  "  I 
agreed  to  take  you  as  guide  because  I  be- 
lieved you  to  be  an  honest  man.     I  make 


30  Fort  Birkett 

few  mistakes  in  such  judgments.  I  don't 
distrust  you  now;  but,  if  you  have  no  better 
reason  than  you've  offered  why  we  should 
take  an  unusual  and  more  difficult  route,  I 
order  you  to  continue  on  this  trail." 

For  a  moment  Lennox  was  inclined  to 
tell  his  companion  of  Birkett's  discovery  in 
the  night,  but  he  shrank  from  needlessly 
alarming  Mr.  Pelham,  as  it  might  prove,  and 
finally  resolved  to  remain  silent,  even  if  his 
silence  made  the  guide's  warning  unheeded. 

Birkett,  after  waiting  for  Lennox  to  speak, 
said,  "  Jedge,  I  ain't  no  honester  than  most 
men,  and  I  hev'n't  staked  out  a  claim  to  be 
wiser.  I  had  an  opinion,  and  I  said  it  plain, 
but — we'll  stick  to  this  trail  unless  some- 
body objects  to  our  company." 

''Who  can  object?"  demanded  the  law- 
yer.. 

"  I  can't  rightly  say  ez  I  know,"  Birkett 
replied  quietly,  throwing  a  pebble  at  the 
lead  pack-horse  to  start  the  outfit  up  the 
trail. 


Turned  from  the  Trail       31 

Each  mile  now  led  into  steeper,  bolder 
country.  The  view  before  them  stretched 
north  and  south  along  endless  ranks  of 
snowy  peaks,  somber  purple  in  shadow, 
glinting  with  hints  of  scarlet  and  orange  in 
the  sun.  Behind  them  were  lessening  depths 
and  heights  of  canon  and  spur,  subsiding 
gradually,  afar  off,  into  the  untroubled  level 
of  the  valley. 

That  night  Lennox  lay  awake  and  watched 
the  guide,  rolled  up  in  his  blanket  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  fire.  At  last  he  saw  him 
turn  very  quietly  and  gaze  towards  some 
boulders  not  one  hundred  yards  away.  By 
patient  searching  Lennox  descried,  at  the 
base  of  one  great  boulder,  two  forms,  indis- 
tinctly outlined  by  starlight,  which  seemed 
to  be  men  seated  with  blankets  drawn  about 
their  shoulders. 

"  Birkett !  "  he  whispered. 
"  Yes,"    answered   the   guide,    not   mov- 
ing. 

"  What  do  those  men  want?  " 


32  Fort  Birkett 

''  Seems  like  they  only  want  to  make  sure 
we  camp  here  all  night.  Better  go  to  sleep, 
Colonel,    ril  watch  'em." 

Lennox,  despite  his  resolve  to  watch,  did 
sleep.  Two  or  three  times  he  awoke  with  a 
start,  but  always  saw  the  guide  lying  mo- 
tionless, with  unwearied  eyes  fixed  on  the 
forms  at  the  base  of  the  boulder. 

"They  vamoosed  agen,  jest  afore  day- 
light," the  guide  said  to  Lennox  in  the  morn- 
ing. "  But  they,  or  some  of  their  kind,  are 
likely  watching  us  now,  and  hev  kept  you  in 
sight  ever  since  the  sheriff  passed  us." 

"  That's  an  unpleasant  idea,"  Lennox  ex- 
claimed. "  I  assume,  of  course,  Mr.  Bir- 
kett," he  continued,  "  that  the  spying  has  to 
do  with  the  man-hunt.  But  who  are  these 
men  who  are  watching  us?  " 

"  Mountain  men ;  friends  of  the  men  the 
sheriff  is  chasing,"  Birkett  responded.  "  In 
the  general  run  they're  a  purty  tough  lot. 
Some  exceptions,  to  be  sure;  but  a  clean-up 
of  the  citizens  of  these  here  parts  would  show 


Turned  from  the  Trail       33 

a  low  grade  of  human  nature ;  low  grade,  on 
the  average,  Colonel." 

"  Why  do  they  fuss  about  our  camp  at 
night  in  this  fashion?  "  Lennox  asked.  "  If 
they  don't  like  our  company,  why  not  say 
so?" 

^*  They're  acting  on  orders,  I  guess,"  the 
guide  answered.  "  'Tain't  likely  they'll 
bother  us,  unless  we  get  too  near  a  hiding- 
place." 

"  That  was  why  you  wanted  to  leave  this 
trail,  eh?" 

'^  Exactly,  Colonel,  exactly.  It's  not  these 
here  men  thet's  worrying  me;  but  they 
wouldn't  be  so  particular  about  our  move- 
ments if  thar  wasn't  something  around  here 
thet's  got  to  be  hid." 

It  was  nearly  noon,  and  the  guide,  who 
had  been  looking  about  for  the  midday  halt- 
ing-place, suddenly  pulled  up  with  a  jerk. 
Attracted  by  the  action,  Lennox  glanced 
ahead,  and  from  a  projecting  ledge  of  rock 
caught  the  gleam  of  a  rifle  barrel.     His 


34  Fort  Birkett 

hands  went  to  his  own  rifle,  but  Birkett  mo- 
tioned him  not  to  move,  and  called  out,  ''  All 
right,  stranger.    What's  wanting?" 

A  man,  carrying  a  cocked  rifle  at  ready, 
stepped  from  behind  the  ledge  into  the 
trail. 

"  No  harm  meant,  gentlemen,"  he  said, 
grinning.  "  I  had  my  weapon  ready,  be- 
cause sometimes  gentlemen  get  nervous, 
meeting  a  stranger  on  the  trail,  and  pull  their 
guns,  and  shoot,  without  knowing  if  the 
stranger  is  friendly  or  not.  Excuse  me  if  I 
ask  you,"  he  concluded,  speaking  to  Len- 
nox, *'  to  take  your  hands  a  little  further 
from  your  gun." 

"  You  villain !  You  rascal !  "  cried  Mr. 
Pelham.  ''  What  do  you  mean  by  display- 
ing a  deadly  weapon  in  that  threatening 
manner?  I'll  turn  you  over  to  the  police, 
you  villain!  I'll  prosecute  you!  I'll  send 
you  to  prison  for  life,  you  bandit !  " 

At  this  unexpected  assault  of  words,  the 
man  with  the  rifle  was  more  disconcerted 


Turned  from  the  Trail       35 

than  if  any  of  the  men  he  faced  had  drawn 
a  weapon.  "  Better  kind  of  explain  things, 
Birkett,"  he  said  at  last. 

''  Jedge,"  Birkett  said  quietly,  "  this  gen- 
tleman— his  name  is  Richard  Rawlins — hez 
the  drop  on  us.  Which  is  why,"  continued 
Birkett,  when  he  saw  that  his  explanation 
had  not  explained,  "  which  is  why  we  should 
parley  with  him." 

For  the  moment  Mr.  Pelham's  indigna- 
tion was  too  tumultuous  to  admit  of  further 
speech,  but  Lennox  remarked  dryly : 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  Birkett  has  the  right 
of  it,  Mr.  Pelham.  Indeed,  I've  never 
known  an  occasion  when  a  parley  seemed 
more  in  order." 

"  Parley  with  a  rascal !  Compound  a  fel- 
ony !  Reason  with  a  murderous  villain !  " 
cried  Mr.  Pelham. 

"  Say,"  drawled  Rawlins,  and  his  voice 
now  had  an  ugly  tone,  ''  I'll  just  excuse  you 
from  naming  any  more  of  them  names.  As 
good  a  man  as  you  was  shot  dead  on  this 


36  Fort  Birkett 

trail  yesterday ;  and  he  didn't  call  no  names, 
neither." 

The  man's  words  were  significant  enough 
to  convince  a  more  obstinate  man  than  Mr. 
Pelham  that  a  fact,  not  a  fantasy,  confronted 
them;  and  this  truth  was  further  borne  upon 
his  understanding  by  the  patient  manner  of 
Birkett,  who  now  said,  "  Jedge,  it's  accord- 
ing to  rule  in  this  country  thet  when  a  gen- 
tleman hez  the  drop  on  ye — especial  with  a 
cocked,  repeating  rifle — he's  in  his  rights  to 
ask  for  a  parley.  Like  ez  not  it's  different 
whar  police  is  more  frequent  and  handy.  I 
guess  Mr.  Rawlin,s  hez  something  to  say  to 
us;  and  I  don't  see,  Jedge,  how  we  ken 
rightly  object — seeing  ez  he  hez  the  drop." 

Mr.  Pelham  replied,  after  looking  several 
times  from  Birkett  to  Rawlins,  "  I  spoke 
without  thought;  police  aid,  here  and  now, 
is,  of  course,  out  of  the  question.  Let  us 
hear  what  this  ras — what  Mr.  Rawlins  has 
to  say." 

''  I  only  want  to  warn  you,  gentlemen," 


Turned  from  the  Trail       37 

said  Rawlins,  ''  that  the  trail  beyond  here  is 
dangerous.'* 

"  Anyone  bin  hurt  yet?  "  Birkett  asked. 

"  There  has,"  Rawlins  replied.  ''  Several 
parties  has  been  hurt,  and  one — I  think  you 
gentlemen  know  him :  Jim  Anderson's  boy, 
Sid — was  killed.  A  friend  of  mine  lies 
wounded,  a  piece  up  the  trail.  That's  why 
this  route  is  dangerous  for  strangers." 

The  full  meaning  of  Rawlins'  words  made 
itself  clear.  The  sheriff's  posse  had  come 
upon  the  robbers  and  their  adherents,  and, 
in  the  encounter,  poor  Sid  Anderson  had  met 
his  death.  One  robber,  at  least,  had  been 
wounded,  but  not  captured;  and,  until  he 
could  be  removed,  his  friends  were  guarding 
the  trail  against  all  intruders. 

But  the  situation  was  one  which  Mr.  Pel- 
ham  and  Lennox  comprehended  slowly,  and 
in  shocked  silence.  They  were  men  of 
peaceful,  conventional  lives,  who  had  read  of 
such  tragedies  with  fancied  understanding; 
but  the  elemental  passions  in  human  nature, 


38  Fort  Birkett 

encountered,  aroused,  and  destroying,  were 
too  like  a  disordered  dream  to  be  quickly 
accepted  as  grim,  present  realities.  Birkett 
understood  their  silence  and  made  no  com- 
ment, and  Rawlins  paused  some  time  before 
he  continued. 

"  I'd  advise  you  gentlemen,"  he  said,  "  to 
turn  back  to  where  you  can  make  across  to 
the  South  trail." 

At  these  words  Mr.  Pelham  flushed,  and 
looked  at  the  guide.  He  realized  the  error 
he  had  made  in  refusing  to  alter  their  route 
as  Birkett  had  advised,  and  was  ready  to 
make  acknowledgment ;  but  the  guide  either 
did  not  see,  or  would  not  notice.  Looking 
at  Rawlins,  he  said,  ''  A  leetle  beyond  here 
is  a  draw,  leading  down  into  Hammatt's 
Meadow.  From  thar  we  could  go  on  into 
Nevada  through  Hammatt's  trail." 

"  That  draw  is  beyond  where — is  beyond 
the  danger  point,"  Rawlins  said.  "  But,"  he 
continued,  noting  Birkett's  disappointment, 
''  if  you've  a  mind  to  go  by  way  of  the 


Turned  from  the  Trail       39 

Meadow,  instead  of  turning  back  and  cross- 
ing to  the  south,  I  can  show  you  a  way  to 
the  Meadow  from  here." 

"  Another  trail  from  here  to  the  Meadow, 
besides  the  one  in  the  draw?  "  Birkett  asked 
in  surprise. 

"  You  might  not  just  call  it  a  trail,"  Raw- 
lins answered,  ''but  it's  a  way  in ;  and  it's  two 
days  shorter  for  you  than  turning  back. 
Suit  yourself." 

"  Well,  Jedge,  what  do  ye  say  ?  " 

Birkett  may  have  had  no  thought  of  heap- 
ing coals  of  fire,  yet  there  was  in  his  manner 
a  deference,  as  to  a  superior  judgment,  in 
asking  this  question,  that  caused  Mr.  Pelham 
to  reply  deprecatingly : 

"  If  we  can  cut  short  by  two  whole  days 
this  offensive  surveillance  let  us  do  so,  no 
matter  how  rough  the  trail." 

"  We'll  go  by  the  Meadow,"  Birkett  said 
quietly  to  Rawlins,  as  if  translating  Mr.  Pel- 
ham's  decision. 


CHAPTER  IV 


hammatt's  meadow 


Directed  by  the  bandit,  the  guide  turned 
the  pack  animals  to  the  north.  Mr.  Pelham 
followed,  his  fine  face  fraught  with  a  bur- 
den of  emotion  which  overweighted  the 
power  of  speech.  Lennox  halted,  as  if  to 
let  the  bandit  precede  him,  but  Rawlins 
tapped  his  rifle,  grinned,  and  said,  ''  I'll  be 
the  rear  guard  of  this  here  little  procession, 
if  you  don't  mind." 

Had  he  considered  only  his  own  safety, 
Lennox  would  have  taken  the  odds  against 
him,  and  fought;  for  a  rage  that  all  but 
swept  reason  aside,  possessed  him.  But, 
checked  by  a  restraining  thread  of  caution, 
which  reminded  him  that  a  number  of  Raw- 
lins' fellows  were  probably  within  sound  of 
40 


Hammatt's  Meadow         41 

a  rifle  shot,  and  that  any  imprudence  on  his 
part  would  endanger  the  Hfe  of  Mr.  Pel- 
ham,  he  rode  on,  struggling  to  conceal  his 
desire  to  resist. 

Rawlins  was  right :  The  route  they  now 
followed  was  not  a  trail,  although  there  were 
evidences  that  it  was  in  occasional  use.  It 
led  eastward,  after  a  mile  of  slight  descent, 
to  the  head  of  a  canon,  where  all  dismounted, 
and  down  whose  rough  sides  they  scrambled 
and  slid.  The  sharp  declivity  led  toward  a 
fairer  country ;  for  they  were  making  one  of 
those  sudden  transitions  which  carry  the 
surprised  traveler  in  the  Sierra  Nevadas 
from  inhospitable  wildernesses  to  sheltering 
valleys;  sometimes  from  drifted  snows  to 
warmly  fragrant  vineyards.  At  last  they 
reached  the  upper  confines  of  a  park-like  ex- 
panse, some  hundreds  of  acres  in  extent, 
where  Birkett  motioned  Rawlins  aside. 
When  they  had  consulted  together  briefly, 
the  guide  beckoned  Lennox,  and  said, 
"  Colonel,  this  is  Hammatt's  Meadow." 


42  Fort  Birkett 

He  waited  a  iiule,  as  if  expecting  that 
the  information  would  produce  some  effect 
upon  Lennox,  but  it  did  not,  and  he  con- 
tinued, **  Thought  ye  might  hev  heerd  of 
him.  Most  people  hev.  Mr.  Hammatt  is  a 
doctor  and  a  gentleman.  He's  a  friend  of 
mine.  Xow,  the  doctor  has  women  folks, 
Colonel,  and  it  would  be  sort  of  disquiet- 
ing— you  might  say  disquieting — for  the 
women  folks  if  ' 

He  hesitated,  pulling  at  his  gnarled  beard, 
as  if  at  a  loss  for  some  word, 

"  It's  like  this,  Mr.  Lennox,"  Rawlins 
said.  '*  I've  no  quarrel  with  you.  even  if  you 
have  with  me.  Xow,  Birkett.  here,  don't 
want  no  trouble  to  happen  in  the  Meadow. 
I  tell  him  that  if  you'll  give  me  your  word 
not  to  make  no  trouble,  I  won't  look  for 
none." 

"  I  don't  quite  understand,"  Lennox 
said. 

"  Give  me  your  word  you  won't  take  any 
advantage,  and  I'll  go  along  as  if  I  was  one 


Hammatt's  Meadow         43 

of  your  party — not  to  keep  you  covered — 
so's  the  women  folks  won't  begin  to  ask 
questions,  or  get  scared.'' 

"  I  agree — so  long  as  we  remain  in  the 
Meadow,"  Lennox  said,  after  a  pause. 

Rawlins  promptly  uncocked  his  rifle, 
mounted  his  horse,  and,  instead  of  bringing 
up  the  rear,  led  the  way  down  a  slightly  worn 
wood  path,  that  seemed  to  the  travelers  a 
fair  highway.  They  had  proceeded  but  a 
short  distance  through  a  grove  of  bay,  inter- 
spersed with  red-limbed  manzanita,  when 
two  women,  both  carrying  rifles,  stepped  into 
the  path  before  them. 

''  Good  Heavens!  "  groaned  Mr.  Pelham, 
*'  do  even  the  women  here  '  get  the  drop  '  on 
us?" 

"  Where  are  you  going,  Richard  Rawlins, 
and  who  are  with  you?  "  one  woman  asked, 
in  a  tone  of  authority., 

"It's  Birkett,  with  two  Easterners  he's 
guiding  over  the  pass." 

''Oh,    is    that   you,  John    Birkett,"    the 


44  Fort  Birkett 

woman    said,    in   a   more    friendly    voice. 
"  This  is  not  the  pass,  you  know  that." 

"  It's  all  right,  Miss  Hammatt,"  Birkett 
called  out.  Then,  when  he  had  approached 
closer,  he  added  in  a  lower  voice :  "  Thar's 
trouble  on  the  pass.  I'll  explain  to  your 
father." 

"  My  father  is  not  at  home,"  the  woman 
said.  After  a  pause,  she  added,  with  a  sig- 
nificant glance  toward  Rawlins,  who  had 
ridden  on,  ''  He  has  gone  up  the  pass  to  at- 
tend a  wounded  stranger." 

As  they  continued  to  speak  in  low  tones, 
Mr.  Pelham  and  Lennox  instinctively  halted 
some  paces  away.  Lennox's  gaze  was  fixed 
intently  upon  the  woman  who  had  not  yet 
spoken,  when  he  was  startled  by  hearing 
Mr.  Pelham  mutter  despairingly : 

''God  bless  my  soul!  There's  another 
creature  with  a  rifle.  The  very  trees  are 
armed ! " 

Lennox,  following  the  other's  gaze,  dis- 
cerned in  the  grove  a  figure  that  at  first  ex- 


Hammatt  s  Meadow         45 

cited  a  smile  at  its  drollness.  It  was  an  In- 
dian, old,  very  old,  it  seemed,  for  his  face 
was  deeply  graven  with  a  thousand  lines. 
He  wore  a  weather-stained,  battered  cavalry 
hat,  ornamented  by  an  eagle's  feather,  a  blue 
flannel  shirt,  and  brown  khaki  trousers, 
tucked  into  rough,  heavy  boots.  He  was 
lazily  smoking  a  short  pipe,  and,  as  he 
leaned  against  a  tree,  seemed,  at  first 
sight,  to  be  half  asleep;  but  Lennox  dis- 
covered that  his  bright  little  eyes  darted 
keenly  from  one  to  the  other  of  the  stran- 
gers, and  his  rifle  rested  lightly  in  his 
hands. 

"  Really,  Van,"  Mr.  Pelham  said  to  his 
companion,  *'  the  sight  of  so  many  people 
bearing  arms,  including  women,  and  Indians 
not  taxed,  is  discouraging.  I  had  hoped 
that  these  women,  at  least,  might  not  offer 
us  battle." 

"  Anyway,"  responded  Lennox,  laughing 
at  his  companion's  viewpoint,  "  I  see  some- 
thing at  the  feet  of  that  Indian  which  sug- 


46  Fort  Birkett 

gests  that  these  present  arms  are  for  sport, 
not  war." 

As  he  pointed  to  a  freshly  slain  deer, 
Birkett  called  to  them,  and  they  rode 
on. 

*'  This,"  said  the  guide,  as  they  came  up, 
"  is  the  Jedge,  and  this  is  the  Colonel,  ez  I 
was  telling  ye  of." 

As  the  gentlemen  bowed,  the  elder  of  the 
ladies  smilingly  completed  the  introduction. 
"  I  am  Dr.  Hammatt's  daughter,"  she  said, 
"  and  this  is  my  niece.  Miss  Farwell.  We 
shall  be  pleased  to  have  you  come  home  with 
us,  for  supper." 

"  To  sit  at  a  table  again  will  be  a  treat," 
Mr.  Pelham  said.  "  But  we  must  not  earn 
your  hospitality  under  false  pretenses.  I 
am  only  Mr.,  not  Judge,  Pelham;  my 
friend,  Vanderlyn  Lennox,  has  yet  to  earn 
his  commission  as  Colonel." 

"  No  offense,  Jedge,"  Birkett  said,  and 
rode  on  after  his  pack  animals. 

Miss  Hammatt  called  to  the  Indian,  telling 


Hammatt's  Meadow         47 

him  they  would  want  some  venison  for  sup- 
per. He  threw  the  deer  on  the  back  of  a 
little  pony,  brought  out  from  the  grove  two 
saddle  horses,  and,  without  a  word,  started 
the  pony  off  at  a  jog,  trotting  along  behind 
it. 

Lennox  jumped  to  the  ground  to  help  the 
ladies  mount,  but  before  he  reached  them 
they  both  swung  easily  into  their  men's  sad- 
dles, and  the  four  started  down  the  widening 
road  at  a  sober  pace,  and  for  a  time  in 
silence. 

The  encounter  was  puzzling  on  both  sides. 
Who  could  these  women  be,  who  were  gen- 
tle and  well-bred — here  in  the  heart  of  the 
mountains  ? 

Who  were  these  men — gentlemen — sud- 
denly appearing  in  the  Meadow,  led  by  Raw- 
lins, a  mountaineer  of  whom  no  one  knew 
good? 

Miss  Hammatt  appeared  to  be  about  thirty 
years  of  age.  She  was  slight,  but  her  figure 
suggested  strength  and  energy.     She  was 


48  Fort  Birkett 

most  notably  unlike  her  companion — for 
their  great  difference  in  height  was  not  so 
noticeable  as  they  rode — in  that  her  not  un- 
pleasing  features  were  habitually  stern. 
Miss  Farwell,  her  junior  by  full  ten  years, 
tall,  and  of  figure  more  luxuriant,  had 
features  of  great  beauty  in  repose,  but  her 
eyes  and  mouth  were  readily  disposed  to 
ripple  with  mischievous  smiles — and  then 
her  beauty  was  greater.  They  were  dressed 
nearly  alike,  in  hats,  jackets,  and  skirts  of 
wood-green;  designed  in  color  and  fashion- 
ing for  the  purpose  of  the  expedition  in 
which  they  had  been  surprised — deer  hunt- 
ing. 

"  I  wonder,"  said  Miss  Hammatt,  "  if  you 
are  the  people  my  father  thought  might  be 
with  us  to-night  when  he  asked  us  to  bring 
in  a  deer." 

''  I  think  not,"  Mr.  Pelham  replied,  smil- 
ing grimly :  "  we  were  induced  to  take  this 
route  only  an  hour  ago." 

The  women  exchanged  glances,  but  sought 


Hammatts  Meadow         49 

no  explanation  as  to  the  nature  of  the  "  in- 
ducement "  that  had  caused  the  change  of 
route.  The  lawyer  learned  that  Miss  Ham- 
matt  knew  of  the  borax  mines,  the  travelers' 
objective  point,  and  they  were  soon  engaged 
in  sober  talk  of  mines,  mining,  and  transpor- 
tation. 

Lennox  wondered  if  the  young  woman  by 
his  side — the  path  had  widened  to  a  road, 
and  they  were  riding  in  couples,  now — 
would  be  interested  in  the  problem  of  borax 
hauling ;  but  what  he  asked  her  was,  "  May 
I  not  carry  your  rifle  for  you?  " 

"  You  are  a  stranger,"  she  laughed,  ''  and, 
having  disarmed  me,   might  order  me  to 
throw  up  my  hands." 
"If  I  promise  not  to?" 
"  Oh,  we  may  see  another  deer." 
Once  or  twice  before  this  Miss  Hammatt 
had  cast  swift,  sweeping  glances  along  the 
hillside  back  of  them,  and  now,  after  another 
such  quick  inspection,  made  a  signal  to  Miss 
Farwell,  who  said,  as  if  in  reply,  "  I  shall 


50  Fort  Birkett 

keep  my  rifle,"  and  her  eyes  suddenly  became 
troubled. 

At  times,  now,  the  road  crossed  fenced 
clearings,  through  which  came  glimpses  of  a 
distant  farm  house  of  considerable  size, 
barns  and  stables,  fields  under  careful  culti- 
vation, cattle  grazing  in  stream-watered 
pastures.  They  had  ridden  slowly,  and 
Rawlins  and  Birkett,  even  the  Indian  and 
his  laden  pony,  were  out  of  their  sight, 
presumably  at  the  house. 

Miss  Hammatt  suddenly  said  that  they 
would  be  supperless  unless  she  gave  some 
orders,  and  after  adding,  "  Be  watchful, 
Constance,"  to  the  younger  woman,  gal- 
loped off,  leaving  the  road,  and  going 
'cross  fields,  taking  fences  with  sure,  easy 
seat. 

Miss  Farwell  turned  to  the  men  and  said 
abruptly :  "  Do  you  know  that  you  were 
brought  here  captive — prisoners  ?  " 

Mr.  Pelham  only  gasped,  but  Lennox, 
flushing,  said,  ''That  man  Rawlins  had  what 


Hammatt's  Meadow         51 

he  called  '  the  drop  '  on  us  for  a  time,  but — 
I  should  be  sorry  to  have  you  think  that 
three  of  us  would  submit  to  one  man,  as 
prisoners/' 

"  Not  one ;  three,"  the  girl  exclaimed. 
*'  Two  others  have  followed  you  all  the  way 
in.  Sam — the  Indian — discovered  them. 
They  are  within  rifle  shot  now.  My  aunt 
and  I  have  both  seen  them." 

*'My  dear  young  lady,"  cried  Mr.  Pelham, 
**  will  you  please  explain  what  all  this 
means?  " 

"  No,"  she  said  slowly,  after  a  pause. 
"  Not  now.  Not  until  I've  seen  my  grand- 
father— Dr.  Hammatt.  But  you  should 
know  at  least  as  much  as  I've  told  you.  Per- 
haps you  should  know  more.  But  I  cannot 
tell  now." 

She  quickened  the  pace,  and  they  rode  on 
in  silence.  The  men  would  have  liked  to 
question  her,  but  respected  her  apparent  wish 
not  to  say  more  about  the  mystery  of  their 
surroundings. 


52  Fort  Birkett 

When  the  last  of  the  party  arrived  at  the 
ranch  house,  a  meal,  abundant  and  hot,  was 
ready  to  be  served.  Miss  Farwell  did  not 
join  the  party  at  supper,  to  which  her  aunt 
at  once  invited  the  gentlemen,  and  their 
hostess  gave  no  explanation  of  her  absence, 
nor  said  any  word  about  the  matter  which 
now  keenly  engaged  the  speculations  of  the 
younger  man,  at  least.  Mr.  Pelham  either 
thought  lightly  of  the  unusual  circumstances 
which  had  brought  them  to  the  Meadow, 
or  else  his  enjoyment  of  conventional  fare, 
under  conventional  conditions,  effaced  any 
reflections  of  a  less  pleasant  nature. 

"  It  seems  an  age,  my  dear  madam,"  he 
said  to  the  hostess,  ''  since  I  have  enjoyed 
such  luxuries  as  fresh  milk,  butter,  and 
eggs.  And  this  venison  and  bacon  — 
ah!" 

Lennox  eagerly  waited  for  the  younger 
woman's  reappearance,  and  started  with  dis- 
appointment when,  soon  after  their  arrival, 
he  saw  her,  mounted  on  a  fresh  horse,  dash 


Hammatt's  Meadow         53 

past  a  window  and  down  the  road  in  the 
direction  opposite  to  the  one  from  which  they 
had  come. 

After  supper  they  went  into  an  adjoin- 
ing room  which  gave  the  impression  of 
being  a  scholar's  study.  A  working  hbrary 
housed  in  home-built  shelves,  a  reading  lamp 
on  a  broad  redwood  table  strewn  with  papers 
and  open  books,  suggested  a  familiar  tenant 
of  the  room,  concerning  whom  Mr.  Pelham 
inquired,  and  Miss  Hammatt  discoursed 
freely.  They  were  thus  discussing  the 
absent  doctor  when  Miss  Farwell  returned, 
and  with  some  agitation  called  her  aunt 
aside.  They  spoke  together  in  low  tones 
for  a  few  minutes,  then  Miss  Hammatt 
turned  and  said: 

"  Gentlemen,  I  regret  that  we  cannot  en- 
tertain you  here  to-night." 

*'  We  had  no  thought  of  giving  you  such 
trouble,"  responded  Mr.  Pelham.  "A 
blanket  on  the  hay,  in  your  barn,  will  be  a 
bed  of  luxury,  compared  to  " 


54  Fort  Birkett 

The  elder  woman  interrupted  him 
brusquely. 

"  There  are  reasons,"  she  said,  "  which 
my  niece  has  just  learned,  why  you  must 
camp  at  some  distance  from  here.  There 
is  a  good  camping  ground  three  miles  down 
the  road,  to  which  one  of  our  boys  will  take 
you.  I  am  sorry  that  we  must  appear  in- 
hospitable; it  is  not  our  custom — but  I  can- 
not explain." 

*'  We  are  unbidden  guests,  at  best,"  the 
lawyer  said,  "  and  I  beg  you  not  to  feel  any 
regret.  We  will  make  our  departure  as  soon 
as   

"  At  once !  "  the  lady  said.  "  Your  pack 
train  is  ready;  your  guide  has  had  supper; 
your  horses  are  saddled." 

Lennox  was  watching  Miss  Farwell,  won- 
dering what  nature  of  message  she  could 
have  brought  from  her  grandfather,  and  the 
girl  reddened  as  she  heard  her  aunt's  words 
of  summary  dismissal.  She  made  no  sign  of 
dissent,  but  Lennox's  heart  quickened  as  he 


Hammatfs  Meadow  55 

caught   from  her  eyes  a   signal.     "I  will 
speak  with  you." 

Mr.  Pelham  bit  his  lips,  but  bowed  politely, 
returned  thanks  for  their  entertainment  in 
old-fashioned  phrases,  and  the  party  went 
out  into  the  light  of  the  young  moon  to  find 
Birkett  prepared  for  the  start.  Rawlins 
was  there,  too;  mounted,  and  disposed  to 
continue  with  the  travelers;  but  Miss  Far- 
well  went  to  him  and  said  in  low  voice : 

"  You  are  not  to  watch  these  people  to- 
night." 

"  I  have  my  orders,"  he  responded. 
"  I    give   you   new   orders.     My   grand- 
father said  I  might  order  you  to  remain  here 
if   I   promised  that  none  of  the  travelers 
would  return  to-night." 

"  And  do  you  give  that  pledge?  "  he  asked 
sneeringly. 

"  I  do,"  she  replied  quietly. 
Rawlins  rode  back  to  the  stables,  and  Miss 
Farwell  returned  to  the  house;  but  in  pass- 
ing Lennox,  as  he  was  about  to  mount,  she 


56  Fort   Birkett 

whispered:  *' At  the  manzanita  thicket;  an 
hour  after  the  moon  is  set." 

The  *'  boy  "  who  was  to  guide  them  to  the 
camping  ground  was  the  old  Piute  Indian, 
"  Captain  "  Sam.  He  rode  a  stubborn,  un- 
saddled little  pony  in  a  manner  which  sug- 
gested that  he  was  on  the  deck  of  a  tossing 
ship,  but  his  was  a  seat  the  most  eruptive 
horse  had  never  unsettled.  When  they  had 
jogged  along  two  miles  of  the  fair  road, 
Sam,  rolling  along  by  the  side  of  Lennox, 
said  in  a  guttural  voice,  "  Captain  Sam,  him 
like  tobacco." 

Lennox  passed  him  his  pouch.  The 
Indian,  pretending  to  be  occupied  with  filling 
his  pipe,  whispered  hoarsely :  ''  You  sabe 
manzanita  on  left?  Him  very  nice  clump 
manzanita." 

"  Oh,"  said  Lennox,  flushing  suddenly. 
"  A  very  nice  thicket  indeed." 


CHAPTER  V 

THE    WOUNDED    STRANGER 

The  road  down  which  Captain  Sam 
guided  the  travelers  lost  distinctness  after 
leaving  the  meadovv^  and  became  again  a 
slight  mountain  trail.  The  country,  too, 
resumed  its  rough  and  lonely  aspect;  a  turn 
in  the  caiion  shut  out  the  last  sign  of  human 
habitation,  and  again  on  all  sides  was 
Sierra  fastland,  mysterious,  menacing. 

The  Easterners  neither  saw  nor  heard  any 
hint  of  man's  presence,  after  leaving  the 
Meadow,  but  Birkett  and  the  Indian  ex- 
changed glances  of  caution  when,  within  a 
mile  of  the  house,  they  passed  a  deep  draw 
in  the  spur  forming  the  south  wall  of  the 
cafion.  Neither  made  mxore  comment  than 
his  glance,  nor  turned  to  look  back.     When 


58  Fort  Birkett 

they  had  passed  on  a  few  hundred  yards 
there  emerged  from  the  draw,  as  the  ravines 
which  flute  the  sides  of  canons  are  called  in 
that  country,  an  old,  white-bearded  man,  on 
horseback.  Following  him  came  two  men 
on  foot,  bearing  between  them  a  forest- 
made  litter,  on  which  lay  a  third  man  with 
head  and  shoulders  bandaged. 

"Who  were  they?"  the  wounded  man 
asked  in  a  weak  voice. 

"  The  party  the  doctor's  granddaughter 
told  him  of.  Two  men  from  the  East,  and 
John  Birkett,"  a  bearer  replied. 

"  Birkett  is  not  our  friend,"  the  other 
bearer  said. 

"  Nor  our  enemy,"  commented  the 
w^ounded  man.  "  He's  not  a  reward  hunter." 

"  He's  our  friend,  or  our  enemy,"  the 
other  said  sullenly.  *'  Rawlins  and  his  men 
must  see  that  Birkett  keeps  moving  east, 
until  his  party  is  out  of  the  mountains." 

At  the  entrance  to  the  Meadow  the 
wounded  man  was  transferred  to  a  cart  filled 


The  Wounded  Stranger     59 

with  hay  and  blankets.  "  When  he  has 
rested,"  said  the  rider,  who  was  Dr.  Ham- 
matt,  *'  I  shall  attempt  to  extract  the  bullet 
from  his  shoulder.  Make  him  as  com- 
fortable as  may  be,  in  the  stables." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  a  bearer  replied  respectfully. 

Dr.  Hammatt  then  rode  rapidly  to  the 
house,  where  his  daughter  and  granddaugh- 
ter anxiously  awaited  him. 

"  What  is  it,  father?  "  his  daughter  asked. 

He  replied  slow^ly,  wearily,  after  a  pause : 

"  A  stranger  has  been  wounded.  I  do  not 
know  how,  and  we  will  not  inquire.  An 
operation  is  necessary,  which  I  could  not 
perform  under  the  conditions  in  which  I 
found  him.  Humanity,  the  obligations  of 
my  profession,  required  that  he  should  be 
brought  here  where  such  skill  and  appliances 
as  I  possess  may  properly  be  exercised  to 
save  life.  If  we  suspect  the  circumstances 
under  which  he  was  wounded,  we  are  still 
justified  in  caring  for  him  until  he  can  be 
removed  by  his  friends." 


6o  Fort  Birkett 

He  spoke,  resting  his  head  heavily  on  his 
hand,  but  now  he  looked  up  with  a  grave 
smile,  and  added : 

"  I  assume,  Martha,  that  your  anxiety  was 
aroused  by  the  order  I  sent  by  Constance, 
to  have  the  travelers  depart  before  my  re- 
turn. I  regret  that  we  could  not  entertain 
them  over  night.  We  will  speak  to  each 
other  of  this  no  more,  my  children." 

The  women  attended  the  old  man's 
patriarchal  words  in  silence,  and  received  his 
final  admonition  with  respectful  gestures  of 
assent,  yet  Constance,  after  some  hesitation, 
said: 

"The  travelers  we  refused  to  entertain 
were  not  of  this  country.  They  were 
strangers — gentlemen." 

The  old  man  did  not  speak,  but  looked  at 
the  girl  with  kindly  inquiry. 

"  They  may  learn  things,"  she  continued, 
"  which,  in  view  of  our  treatment  of  them, 
may  make  them  " 

vShe  stopped,  embarrassed, 


The  Wounded  Stranger     6i 

**  May  make  them  misjudge  us,"  he  said. 
•"Well?" 

"  I  should  not  like  that." 

''Why,  Constance?" 

"  It  would  hurt  me,"  she  answered 
simply. 

He  looked  from  the  girl  to  his  own  daugh- 
ter, as  if  seeking  an  explanation  he  did  not 
find,  then  turned  to  Constance  and  said : 

"  If  it  seems  important  to  you,  child,  or 
worth  any  effort  whatever,  to  keep  any 
human  being  from  misjudging  our  motives, 
you  have  my  consent  to  give  the  travelers 
such  information  as  shall  establish  an  honest 
name  for  us." 

He  smiled  indulgently  as  he  finished,  and 
kissed  the  girl,  who  said  earnestly,  "  Thank 
you,  grandfather ! " 

,  •  •  •  • 

Dr.  Hammatt  was  entering  upon  middle 
age  when,  some  twenty  years  before  the  time 
of  the  incidents  just  related,  he  resolved  to 
leave  the  boisterous  Western  city  where  his 


62  Fort  Birkett 

professional  practice  had  earned  him  a  com- 
petence, and  seek  a  home  where  he  could 
gratify  a  desire  for  rural  life,  and  pursue 
his  speculative  studies.  He  was  a  widower, 
whose  home  was  presided  over  by  a  married 
daughter.  She,  with  her  husband,  Conrad 
Farwell,  civil  engineer,  a  second  daughter, 
Martha,  then  ten  years  old,  and  a  few  neigh- 
boring friends,  composed  the  first  party  to 
emigrate,  with  the  doctor,  to  the  valley  of 
the  San  Joaquin,  in  California.  This 
colony  grew  by  the  accession  of  other  friends 
who  learned  of  the  promising  fields  the 
pioneers  had  found. 

From  the  Government  they  bought  farms 
officially  described  as  "  desert  land  " ;  but 
investigation  convinced  the  doctor  and  his 
son-in-law  that  it  would  grow  orchards  and 
vineyards  if  watered  by  a  contiguous  stream 
which  emptied  into  the  San  Joaquin  River. 
For  this  work,  which  was  at  once  under- 
taken, Farwell  was  the  engineer,  and  Dr. 
Hammatt  and  a  few  friends  supplied  the 


The  Wounded  Stranger     63 

funds.  The  doctor  also  wisely  directed  the 
planting  of  yearly  crops,  until  the  slower 
growing  trees  and  vineyards  should  bear. 

Prosperity  rewarded  intelligent  toil. 
Homes  were  built ;  and  a  church,  where  was 
baptized  the  colony's  first-born,  baby  Con- 
stance Farwell. 

Soon,  it  seemed  in  this  happy  industrious 
life,  came  the  year  when  nature  would  answer 
their  hopes,  yea  or  nay,  by  granting  or  deny- 
ing fruit  to  their  vines  and  orchards.  Then 
it  was  that  spying  strangers  came  into  the 
land,  and  made  no  effort  to  conceal  their 
unfriendliness.  The  doctor  quieted  the  fears 
of  the  settlers.  Had  he  not  taken  every 
precaution  to  safeguard  their  interests ;  con- 
formed in  all  ways  to  the  laws  of  the  Gov- 
ernment whose  land  they  had  bought,  and 
made  to  bloom? 

When  nature  abundantly  fulfilled  their 
hopes,  they  planned  a  festival  of  thanks  to 
the  Giver  of  all  mercies:  and  it  was  then 
that  a  deputy  United  States  marshal  came 


64  Fort  Birkett 

to  warn  Dr.  Hammatt  that  the  settlers  oc- 
cupied lands  belonging  to  a  railroad  com- 
pany. They  must  vacate,  or  buy  again,  at 
the  company's  price. 

The  doctor  went  to  his  lawyer,  and  heard 
from  him  a  tangled  tale  of  lieu  lands,  of 
appeal  to  the  Interior  Department,  of  a 
commissioner's  ruling,  an  order  of  evict- 
ment! 

Could  nothing  be  done  ?  the  doctor  asked. 
"  The  Government  gave  the  railroad  com- 
pany countless  millions  of  fair  acres,  but  the 
desert  we  bought  was  not  included  in  that 
gift.  There  is  justice, — somewhere, — some 
power  to  appeal  to  which  could  avert  so  sor- 
rowful a  wrong ! " 

No  power  greater  than  the  company,  the 
lawyer  said.  It  coveted  the  land  made  rich 
by  the  settlers'  toil — their  savings.  He  had 
appealed  to  Washington,  but  doubted  if  his 
letters  ever  reached  officials  higher  than 
those  who  had  already  decided  in  favor  of 
the  company's  claim.     That  was  as  if  he 


The  Wounded  Stranger     65 

had  appealed  to  the  company  itself.  Dr. 
Hammatt  sent  the  lawyer  to  Washington, 
hoping  that  a  personal  appeal  might  avail. 
From  the  capital  the  lawyer  wrote :  "  An 
influence,  which  it  is  unnecessary  to  explain 
to  you,  controls  every  source  of  possible  re- 
lief. I  made  personal  appeal  to  the  Presi- 
dent. He  said  he  was  '  disinclined  to  over- 
rule a  bureau  decision  which  had  been  af- 
firmed by  a  cabinet  officer.'  " 

It  was  the  day  of  the  festival  that  Dr. 
Hammatt  received  this  letter.  After  thanks 
had  been  offered  in  the  little  church,  the 
colonists  formed  near  its  door  in  flower- 
decked  ranks ;  and  there,  sorrowful,  but  hid- 
ing his  fears  from  the  people,  the  doctor  saw 
a  wagon  with  high  board  sides  coming  up  the 
colony  road;  and,  seated  by  the  wagon 
driver,  a  lawless  character  of  the  neighboring 
tow^n.  His  sudden  alarm,  as  he  recognized 
the  bully,  startled  those  near  the  doctor. 
The  procession  halted  in  a  quick  shiver  of 
panic. 


66  Fort  Birkett 

'*  Who  are  you  and  what  is  your  business 
here?  "  the  doctor  asked,  as  the  wagon  drew 
near  and  stopped. 

'*  I  am  a  deputy  United  States  mar- 
shal," repHed  the  man  on  the  seat  with  the 
driver.  '  My  business  is  to  serve  on  each 
pretended  landowner  here  notice  of  evic- 
tion." 

For  a  moment  the  settlers  were  dumb; 
then  there  were  angry  murmurs  from  the 
men,  sobs  from  the  women. 

"  Mr.  Marshal,"  the  doctor  said,  stepping 
forward,  ''  we  are  a  peaceful  people,  occupy- 
ing land  for  which  we  have  paid  the  Govern- 
ment its  lawful  price.  A  cruel  crime  is 
being  attempted  against  us.  If  I  accept 
your  notices  for  all,  will  you  depart,  leaving 
us  untroubled,  until  we  can  make  one  more 
effort  to  secure  justice?  " 

"  No,"  replied  the  man.  ''  I  must  serve 
notice  on  each  colonist  in  person.  This  is 
the  company's  land." 

A  young  settler,  Frank  Evanson,  stepped 


The  Wounded  Stranger     67 

from  the  ranks  and  stood  in  front  of  the 
doctor. 

*'  You  will  evict  no  one  here  to-day,"  he 
cried.     ''  Not  to-day !  " 

''Do  you  threaten  me?"  asked  the  deputy. 
As  he  spoke  there  was  an  ominous  movement 
in  the  wagon  box. 

"  We  will  defend  our  homes !  "  Evanson 
answered. 

"Fire!" 

This  the  deputy  shouted. 

A  dozen  men  who  had  been  concealed  in 
the  wagon  sprang  to  their  feet,  leveled  rifles 
at  the  horror-palsied  people,  and  fired. 

There  were  cries  of  agony,  cries  for 
mercy,  cries  of  rage. 

"Fire!" 

Again  the  deputy  gave  the  murder  order : 
himself  shooting  down  Frank  Evanson. 

"Fire!" 

The  third  volley  found  its  victims  in  the 
huddle  of  fleeing  men,  women,  and  children. 

"  Thou  shalt  not  covet  " 


68  Fort  Birkett 

In  the  days  that  followed,  though  himself 
wounded,  Dr.  Hammatt  attended  to  the 
wounds  of  others;  buried  his  murdered 
daughter,  and  her  husband ;  gave  help  to  the 
widowed;  and  then,  with  his  daughter 
Martha,  and  the  little,  orphaned  Constance 
Farwell,  found  a  new  home  in  a  high  moun- 
tain meadow.  There  he  hoped  to  spend  the 
rest  of  his  sorrowful  life,  too  poor,  too  re- 
mote, to  attract  the  vengeance  the  railroad 
company  swore  to  visit  on  all  the  colonists 
its  murderers  had  not  killed. 

Other  colonists  went  deep  into  the  moun- 
tains; but  not  all  to  clear  and  cultivate 
land. 

"  So  long  as  I  live,"  swore  Frank  Evan- 
son,  when  he  recovered  from  his  wound,  "  I 
shall  take  from  the  company  some  part  of 
what  they  took  from  us." 

Others  made  like  oath  with  him,  and  they 
became  the  outlawed  train  robbers  of  that 
country.  They  could  hide  in  the  home  of 
any  colonist  except  Dr.  Hammatt.     He  told 


The  Wounded  Stranger      69 

them  if  they  turned  against  the  law  they 
must  be  strangers  to  him.     But 


On  the  night  before  our  travelers  were 
turned  aside  from  the  pass,  a  man  went  to 
the  Meadow  home,  and  told  the  doctor  his 
services  were  needed  by  a  stranger. 

"  What  is  the  stranger's  name?  " 

"  Frank  Evanson." 

"  I  will  attend  the  stranger,"  the  doctor 
said.( 


CHAPTER  VI 

MR.    PELHAm's    discovery 

Vanderlyn  Lennox  stood  beneath  the 
angular,  dull-red  branches  of  a  manzanita 
tree,  straining  his  eyes  up  the  trail,  which 
now  lay  revealed  in  the  faint  radiance  of 
starlight,  now  obscured  in  shadow  too  dense, 
it  seemed,  to  be  penetrated  even  by  the  mid- 
day sun.  He  had  left  his  companions  an 
hour  ago;  Mr.  Pelham  deep  in  untroubled 
sleep,  Birkett  on  guard,  as  on  previous 
nights,  with  no  thought  of  sleep. 

Miss  Farwell's  hurried  words  to  him  at 
parting,  the  Indian's  actions  as  they  passed 
the  thicket,  gave  assurance  that  he  was  ex- 
pected there  at  that  hour :  but  his  searching 
eyes  found  no  sign  on  the  trail,  nor  had  his 
70 


Mr.  Pelham's  Discovery      71 

eager  ears  caught  any  sound  but  the  beating 
of  his  own  heart.  He  was  startled,  there- 
fore, when  at  his  very  side  he  heard  a  gut- 
tural voice : 

"  Captain  Sam,  him  like  some  tobacco." 

"  Oh,  is  it  you,  Sam  ?  How  did  you  get 
here?" 

"  You  alone  ?  "  the  Indian  asked,  ignoring 
the  other's  question. 

"  Yes,  alone.  Where  is  Miss  Far- 
well?" 

"  Here,"  replied  the  young  woman,  and 
she  came  softly  out  of  the  shadow  behind 
him. 

"  Captain  Sam,  him  smoke,"  the  Indian 
said,  and  proceeded  to  do  so;  noiselessly 
pacing  the  trail  in  front  of  the  thicket  where 
the  young  people  talked. 

Constance  told  Lennox  something  of  her 
grandfather's  story :  a  story  wholly  tradition 
to  her,  for  she  had  no  recollection  of  the 
colony  tragedy. 

**  My  grandfather,"  she  concluded,  **  has 


72  Fort  Birkett 

been  parent,  teacher,  friend  to  me.  The 
world  would  call  him  a  great  scholar,  so  my 
aunt  tells  me,  but  I  know  him  only  as  a  kind, 
gentle,  just  man :  attending  in  their  sickness 
the  old  colonists  scattered  through  these 
mountains;  helping  them  in  their  needs. 
Do  you  blame  him,  then,  for  going  to  that 
wounded  man,  even  if  he  suspects — though 
he  does  not  know — how  he  was  wounded? 
Do  you  think  ill  of  us  because  of  what  he  has 
done?" 

"Think  ill  of  you!"  cried  Lennox,  im- 
pulsively taking  the  girl's  hands  in  his.  He 
released  them  slowly,  saying,  *'  No !  " 

There  was  a  silence  in  which  neither 
stirred,  then  she  continued : 

"  Sam  learned  that  Rawlins  will  accom- 
pany you  only  as  far  as  you  go  to-morrow, 
and  leave  you  the  next  morning.  Then  you 
will  be  free  to  go  when  and  where  you  please, 
except  that  you  must  not  return  this  way,  nor 
by  the  pass." 

"Why?"  exclaimed  Lennox.     He  could 


Mr.  Pelham  s  Discovery      73 

not  see  the  flush  of  pleasure  in  her  face, 
brought  by  his  tone  of  disappointment. 

"  Because,"  she  said,  "  by  that  time  the 
men  who — the  men  who  are  hiding — may 
need  arms  and  ammunition.  You  have 
both." 

''  And  can  use  them !  "  he  declared. 

"  There  are  some  with  the  wounded  man 
who  can  travel  more  softly  than  we,"  the 
girl  said;  "we  who  just  now  came  behind 
you  and  stood  for  minutes  where  we  could 
have  touched  you,  yet  you  did  not  know. 
Your  arms  are  of  no  use  against  such 
men." 

Again  both  were  silent  until  she  whis- 
pered : 

''  Good-by." 

*'  Not  '  good-by.'     I  shall  see  you  again." 

"  No.  It  is  my  grandfather  who  says  you 
must  not  return  this  way." 

**  I  shall  see  you  again,"  he  repeated. 

She  left  him,  but  without  repeating  her 
denial. 


74  Fort  Birkett 

For  a  little  while  Lennox  saw  the  two 
figures  glide  up  the  trail,  then  disappear,  he 
could  not  tell  where  or  how,  though  on  a 
sudden  impulse  he  ran  after  them  in  fruitless 
search. 

The  next  morning  Rawlins  appeared  in 
camp  before  the  packing  was  finished;  but 
neither  the  travelers  nor  the  guide  spoke  to 
him,  or  seemed  to  give  heed  to  his  presence. 
Several  times  Mr.  Pelham  was  minded  to 
protest,  but  the  demeanor  of  his  com- 
panions caused  him  to  refrain.  He  saw 
that  the  old  miner,  exasperated  by  the 
presence  of  Rawlins,  was  controlling  his 
temper  under  a  strong  pull,  while  Len- 
nox was  abstracted  and  lacked  his  usual 
buoyancy. 

The  bandit  made  a  mistake  common  to 
bullies ;  he  believed  the  silence  of  the  others 
denoted  fear  of  him,  and  so  fashioned  his 
comments  to  express  pleasure  in  their  sup- 
posed distress. 

"  I  reckon  when  you  folks  started  over  the 


Mr.  Pelham's  Discovery      75 

pass  you  didn't  know  as  you'd  be  met  by  a 
committee  of  distinguished  citizens  to  offer 
you  the  freedom  of  the  mountains,"  he  said 
at  last,  emphasizing  the  taunt  with  an  ill- 
natured  chuckle. 

He  was  again  riding  in  the  rear,  to  hold 
the  others  under  cover  of  his  rifle ;  Birkett  in 
the  lead,  Mr.  Pelham  following,  Lennox 
next  in  front  of  Rawlins.  He  laughed 
again  and  again  at  his  witticism,  but  ceased 
abruptly,  with  rifle  swung  into  readiness, 
when  Lennox,  half  turning  in  his  saddle, 
said  quietly,  ''  Rawlins,  the  trail  is  wide 
enough  here  for  you  to  go  to  the  front.  I 
want  you  to  do  so." 

Lennox  had  not  even  lifted  his  rifle  from 
its  sling.  Noting  this,  Rawlins  replied, 
"  Well,  young  fellow,  you  ain't  just  rightly 
fixed  to  give  me  orders." 

"  I  give  you  an  order,  nevertheless," 
Lennox  said.  ''  I  see  that  you  are  a  coward, 
and  you  might  shoot  in  the  back,  without 


76  Fort  Birkett 

"  That's  pretty  tall  talk  for  you,  consider- 
ing the  way  my  gun  is  pointed." 

"  It  ain't  p'inted  in  no  friendly  way,  Dick 
RawHns." 

This  remark  from  Birkett  drew  Rawlins' 
glance.  He  saw  the  old  miner's  cocked  rifle 
aimed  at  him,  and  held  without  a  tremor. 
He  slowly  lowered  his  own  weapon,  and 
sullenly  urged  his  horse  to  the  front,  for 
John  Birkett  had  a  record  in  no  way  related 
to  his  peaceful  occupation  of  miner  and 
prospector. 

The  incident  sweetened  the  mental  atmos- 
phere. The  guide  and  his  charges  resum.ed 
their  friendly  talk,  and  in  its  course  Lennox 
lamented  the  ill  luck  which  had  deprived 
him  of  the  sight  of  the  big  game  said  to 
abound  in  the  region. 

Since  leaving  camp  they  had  emerged 
from  the  canon  which  brought  them  from 
the  Meadow,  and  for  a  time  had  traversed  a 
broad  sloping  flank  of  the  mountains, 
scantily  furnished   with   stunted  pine,   but 


Mr.  Pelham's  Discovery      77 

giving  view  of  heavily  timbered  lower 
ranges  before  them;  for  they  were  now 
descending  the  eastern  slope. 

The  barely  discernible  trail  across  the 
mesa  took  them,  near  noon,  to  the  edge  of  an 
unattractive  gorge.  So  it  appeared  to  all 
but  Birkett ;  but  he  often  paused  to  peer  into 
its  depths  with  critical  attention.  "  An  old 
river  bed,"  he  muttered.  "  Don't  jest  reelect 
ever  heving  heerd  of  it.  Mighty  sight  of 
water  ran  thar  once.  Cut  off,  somehow, 
and  turned  toward  " 

He  ceased  muttering  and  called  out, 
"  Thar's  yer  chance.  Colonel ;  a  grizzly,  or  I 
ain't  never  seen  one." 

In  the  bottom  of  the  gorge,  lumbering  in 
and  out  among  the  boulders,  they  saw  a  red- 
dish-brown bear,  whose  mighty  proportions 
were  impressive  even  at  that  great  distance. 
But  a  shot  at  such  range  would  be  waste  of 
ammunition.  Lennox  dismounted,  and  ran 
back  on  the  trail,  shouting,  "  I'll  head  him 
off,  and  get  down  into  the  gorge  in  front  of 
him." 


78  Fort  Birkett 

*'  Nervy  move  for  a  tenderfoot,"  Birkett 
commented  dryly.  "  Guess  Til  go  ajong 
with  him,  to  see  thet  the  bar  don't  get  too 
intimate  on  short  acquaintance." 

As  he  started  to  dismount  he  chanced  to 
glance  at  Rawlins.  Then  he  added,  settling 
in  his  saddle,  ''  Guess  the  youngster  ken 
look  out  for  himself." 

Something  in  Rawlins'  expression  re- 
minded the  guide  that,  if  he  followed 
Lennox,  he  would  leave  Mr.  Pelham,  un- 
armed, and  three  valuable  packs,  at  the 
bandit's  mercy. 

"  I  think  you  should  go  to  Mr.  Len- 
nox's assistance,"  Mr.  Pelham  said  ear- 
nestly. 

"  I  will,  Jedge,"  Birkett  replied,  examin- 
ing the  side  of  the  gorge  further  along  the 
trail.  "  We  ken  all  get  down  a  leetle  below 
here." 

"  Not  with  the  animals,"  Rawlins  ob- 
jected. 

"  'Tain't  much  worse  than  thet  way  ye 


Mr.  Pelham's  Discovery      79 

showed  us  into  Hammatt's  Meadow,"  Bir- 
kett  answered. 

He  tightened  all  the  packs,  and  then,  lead- 
ing the  horses,  they  made  a  long  slant  down 
into  the  gorge,  the  sure-footed  animals  cau- 
tiously feeling  out  each  step  of  the  descent. 
Before  the  bottom  was  reached,  a  less  experi- 
enced observer  than  Birkett  could  have  seen 
that  it  had  been  the  course  of  a  river.  It  was 
not  ancient,  as  geologists  use  the  term;  for 
the  sharpness  of  the  water-graven  lines  on 
the  rocks  proved  that  no  great  period  ago 
they  were  cut  by  a  swift,  continual  current. 
Now,  even  when  the  fast-melting  snow  kept 
other  river  banks  full,  there  was  here  but  a 
small  creek,  murmuring  lazily. 

While  Mr.  Pelham  was  alert  for  some  sign 
of  his  absent  companion,  Birkett  was  even 
more  intent  upon  the  tale  told  to  him  by  the 
rocks,  as  by  a  printed  page.  Rawlins 
watched  the  old  prospector  with  wolfish  eyes. 

All  started  at  the  sound  of  a  rifle  shot, 
and  remained  in  silent  expectancy  until  a 


8o  Fort  Birkett 

second  shot  was  followed  by  a  long 
"  Halloo !  "  so  plainly  the  expression  of 
exultant  youth  that  the  lawyer  smiled  in  re- 
lief, and  the  miner  said  in  a  satisfied  tone, 
''  The  Colonel  hez  the  bar,  Jedge." 

They  traveled  easily,  now,  up  the  creek 
bed;  but,  although  they  heard  Lennox's 
signaling  halloos,  he  was  hidden  from  sight 
until  they  passed  through  a  narrow  chasm 
into  an  oblong  basin,  forming  the  abrupt 
upper  end  of  the  gorge.  The  only  break  in 
the  wall  now  surrounding  them  was  the 
narrow  passage  which  once  released,  into  the 
gorge  below,  the  tumbling  tumult  of  water 
plunging  into  the  basin  over  the  edge  of  its 
cliff  walls,  hundreds  of  feet  above.  Now 
the  gravelly  floor  was  clean  and  dry ;  except 
for  a  little  pool,  where  a  wavering  silver 
thread,  the  wraith  of  the  river  that  was,  fell 
mistily  over  the  cliff. 

There  they  found  the  huntsman  standing 
by  his  game;  hot,  disheveled,  happy.  As 
they  took  their  midday  rest  and  meal,  Lennox 


Mr.  Pelhams  Discovery      8i 

told  them  that  the  bear  had  been  wounded  by 
the  first  shot,  but  had  managed  to  reach  the 
basin,  where  he  towered  at  bay  until  brought 
down  by  the  second  shot. 

''It's  a  better  fort  for  a  man  with  a  gun 
to  hold,  than  for  a  bar,"  Birkett  commented. 
He  said  they  could  likely  get  out  of  the 
gorge  without  having  to  climb  its  steep  sides, 
by  following  the  creek ;  for  a  river,  the  size 
of  that  which  once  flowed  there,  had  an  out- 
let large  enough  to  give  them  easy  passage. 
He  suggested  that  they  make  camp  there 
until  the  next  day.  He  wanted  to  "  look 
around  a  bit,"  he  said.  This  plan  suited 
Lennox;  for  it  would  take  several  hours  to 
prepare  his  bear-skin  trophy  for  transporta- 
tion. 

The  horses  had  been  left  outside  the  basin, 
and  Birkett  went  to  attend  to  them,  and  the 
pack.  The  bandit  followed.  He  appeared 
to  be  fascinated  by  the  miner's  every  move- 
ment, kept  close  to  his  side,  made  uncouth 
efforts  at  friendly  advances. 


82  Fort  Birkett 

After  watching  Lennox,  at  work  on  the 
hide  with  his  hunting  knife,  Mr.  Pelham 
went  to  the  pool,  in  the  hope  that  it  might 
furnish  a  fish  supper.  If  any  trout  hved  in 
its  clear  shallow  water,  they  were  not 
tempted  by  his  casts,  and  soon  the  delights 
of  Walton's  precepts  won  him  from  his 
practice,  and  he  abandoned  the  rod  for  the 
book,  comfortably  stretched  on  the  margin 
of  the  pool.  At  times  his  ''  idly  meditative  " 
gaze  wandered  from  the  page,  and  in  boyish 
luxury  of  indolence  he  dimpled  the  surface 
of  the  pool  with  a  toss  of  pebbles.  Once  he 
balanced  a  handful  of  missiles,  then,  with  no 
conscious  purpose,  opened  the  hand,  and 
examined  its  contents.  Something  he  saw 
startled  him,  quickened  his  pulse.  He  scat- 
tered the  stuff  in  his  hand  over  the  open 
leaves  of  his  book;  picked  out  some  of  the 
particles  that  fixed  his  attention,  and  then 
uttered  a  cry  that  brought  Lennox  to  his 
side  with  a  bound. 


Mr.  Pelham's  Discovery      83 

"What  is  this,  Vanderlyn?"  he  asked, 
and  his  voice  shook. 

Lennox  took  what  the  lawyer  held  out  to 
him  in  a  hand  that  trembled,  gave  it  close 
scrutiny,  then,  his  breath  quickening,  scraped 
with  hunting  knife  the  dully  red  object, 
dropped  his  knife,  and  whispered: 

"Gold!" 


CHAPTER  VII 
a  midnight  desertion 

"Gold!" 

Oh,  the  impetuous  pulse,  the  tumult  of 
heart,  aroused  in  the  seeker  after  gold  when 
the  sense  of  sight  is  corroborated  by  the 
softly-solid  touch  of  the  magic  metal !  Not 
the  rebellious  stuff  in  which  gold,  unseeable, 
unfeelable,  is  fused  with  baser  metals;  not 
the  ore  that  a  chemist's  acid,  pounding  mill, 
roaring  furnace  must  treat  before  the  dross 
is  burned,  ground,  melted  away;  but  the 
free,  naked  gold,  which  man  with  unaided 
hands  may  wash  from  its  gravel  bed,  and 
see,  and  touch,  as  he  wins  it !  What  gloat- 
ing revels  of  the  mind  its  sight,  its  touch, 
evoke  in  him  who  finds  it  after  weary  years ; 
or  in  the  novice — most  often  the  finder ! 

Gold! 

84 


A  Midnight  Desertion       85 

Something  in  the  very  attitude  of  the  men 
told  Birkett,  when  he  returned  to  the  basin, 
what  had  happened.  After  one  glance  at 
them  he  hurried  to  his  pack,  took  shovel  and 
pan,  and  waded  into  the  pool  until  he  stood 
knee  deep  in  it.  Then  he  felt  with  his  shovel 
to  find  a  riffle  in  the  gravel-covered  bed- 
rock, brought  the  shovel  up  laden — its 
weight  made  him  stare  and  tremble — put 
the  gravel  into  his  pan,  and  dipped  it  again 
and  again  in  the  water,  tipping  and  turning 
it  at  the  same  time.  Now  he  would  scrape 
away  the  top  gravel  with  cautious  fingers, 
then  the  water  would  be  used  to  clear  away 
more;  and  by  these  means,  repeated  again 
and  again,  the  pan  was  washed  until  there 
remained  in  it  a  handful  of  fine  particles,  of 
pieces  the  size  of  beans,  of  nuggets  the  size 
of  a  woman's  thimble,  smoothly  irregular, 
dull  reddish-yellow — gold ! 

Mr.  Pelham  and  his  companion  stood  on 
one  side  of  the  pool,  watching  the  old  miner 
in  his  skillful  work,  with  an  excitement  they 


86  Fort  Birkett 

could  not  have  explained ;  tingling  with  a  de- 
light they  gave  no  thought  to  translate ;  con- 
scious of  a  thrilling  event,  yet  but  vaguely 
understanding.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the 
pool  stood  Rawlins,  half  crouched,  like  an 
animal  about  to  spring,  his  twitching  mouth 
agape,  his  snaky  eyes  fixed,  unchanging. 

Birkett  took  his  treasure  to  where  Mr. 
Pelham  and  Lennox  stood,  and  held  it  out 
for  them  to  see,  himself  half-dazed.  They 
dipped  up  the  gold  in  their  hands,  let  it 
drip  through  their  fingers,  and  picked  out 
specimens  for  special  praise. 

"  By  Jove,  old  man ! "  Lennox  cried, 
"  there  must  be  a  lot  of  this  stuff,  for  a  single 
pan  to  yield  so  much." 

"  I  wish  Tom  Matthews  could  hev  seen 
this,"  Birkett  muttered.  ''  I'd  like  Tom  to 
see  this ;  the  richest  gravel  I  ever  panned — or 
ever  heerd  on." 

He  emptied  the  gold  on  his  own  coat 
spread  out  on  the  dry  gravel,  dropped  pan 
and  shovel,  and  turned  sadly  away.     The 


A  Midnight  Desertion       87 

action  seemed  to  awaken  Rawlins  out  of  a 
trance.  He  jumped  up  and  down,  uttering 
animal-like  cries,  then  seized  the  pan  and 
shovel,  dashed  into  the  water,  and  clumsily 
washed  some  gravel.  This  could  be  done 
by  a  prentice  hand,  for,  in  the  riffles,  gold  lay 
fat  and  heavy;  as  if  nature,  during  ages,  had 
designed  to  concentrate  such  treasure  here  as 
would  startle  man ! 

In  a  few  minutes  Birkett  turned  to  the 
travelers  again,  and  said: 

"  Gentlemen,  the  river  thet  one  time  fell 
over  thet  cliff,  into  this  here  gorge,  some- 
whar  or  other,  cut  across  a  quartz  ledge 
thet  was  alive  with  free  gold,  like  the  speci- 
mens jewelers  set  into  rings;  a  ledge  of 
quartz  thet  miners  dream  of — plugged  with 
native  gold,  free  gold,  like  a  wooden  target 
with  lead.  For  centuries  thet  river  was 
washing  thet  gold  out  of  the  quartz,  rolling 
it  along,  rolling  it  along,  to  toss  it  at  last 
into  this  gorge.  Why,  gravel  thet  yields  no 
more  to  the  pan  than  the  pinch  of  salt  ye'd 


88  Fort  Birkett 

put  on  a  potato,  is  wuth  working ;  but  gravel 
thet  pays  a  handful  to  the  pan  " 

He  paused  as  if  seeking  some  figure  of 
speech  that  would  help,  but  gave  up  the 
search  and  continued  slowly,  soberly, 
''  Jedge,  in  this  basin  alone  thar  are  tons  of 
gold! " 

Mr.  Pelham  and  Lennox  looked  at  each 
other  in  astounded  silence,  but  Rawlins,  who 
had  heard  the  last  words,  roared  hoarsely: 
''Tons  of  gold!  Tons  of  gold!''  He 
dashed  from  the  water  to  the  growing  pile 
of  nuggets,  shouted,  laughed;  rushed  back 
into  the  water  to  resume  his  work,  mutter- 
ing, laughing  yet,  but  never  looking  at  the 
others. 

The  sight  of  the  fellov/,  changed  by  avarice 
into  a  half-crazed  beast,  repelled  the  others, 
and  they  drew  aw^ay  from  the  pool.  Out- 
side the  basin  entrance,  Birkett  said,  ''  Jest 
to  hev  everything  legal,  according  to  min- 
ing law,  we'd  better  put  up  notices  of  loca- 


A  Midnight  Desertion        89 

The  eminent  lawyer  and  the  diplomaed 
mining  expert  listened  respectfully  to  the  old 
prospector  as  he  explained  the  law  governing 
location  of  mining  land;  the  law  his  whole 
class  know  and  respect ;  and  the  proper  legal 
forms,  simple  and  brief,  were  soon  written 
and  posted. 

Mr.  Pelham's  claim  included  the  basin; 
Lennox's,  the  next  adjoining;  Birkett's,  the 
next,  for  the  latter  insisted  upon  this  order, 
giving  him  the  least  favorable  claim. 

''  Rawlins,"  he  said,  "  ken  locate  next  to 
me,  down  the  gorge.  I  don't  jest  hanker  to 
hev  him  for  neighbor,  but  I'll  hev  to  make 
the  best  of  it.  We  couldn't  get  rid  of  him 
now,  with  dynamite." 

''  We'll  share  both  our  good  and  ill  luck," 
Mr.  Pelham  declared.  "  Our  three  claims 
shall  be  consolidated  into  one,  each  of  us  to 
be  an  equal  owner  in  the  whole." 

*'  Bravo !  "  cried  Lennox. 

*'  Tom  Matthews  couldn't  bin  no  fairer, 
sir,"  Birkett  said. 


90  Fort  Birkett 

"  Then  we'll  each  have  to  endure  but  a 
third  of  our  bad  luck,  having  Rawlins  for  a 
neighbor." 

"  The  trouble  with  yer  first  proposition, 
Jedge,  is  thet  ef  I  share  in  the  basin  claim  I'll 
hev  so  much  gold  I'll  never  hev  to  prospect 
agin.     Then  what  '11  I  do  with  my  time?  " 

*'  I've  never  before  heard  that  problem  ad- 
vanced as  an  argument  against  accepting 
the  goods  the  gods  provide." 

''  But  a  genuine  prospector  don't  hunt  for 
gold  for  the  sake  of  the  goods;  no  more'n 
the  Colonel  shot  the  bar  for  the  sake  of  bar 
meat.     It's  the  fun  of  the  hunt  thet  pays." 

"Pays  him,  for  instance?"  asked  Mr. 
Pelham,  pointing  to  where  the  bandit  was 
yet  working  with  frantic  energy. 

"Him?  Oh,  he's  no  hunter!  He's  a 
jackal,"  the  miner  responded. 

When  Rawlins,  at  last  exhausted  by  un- 
usual toil,  threw  aside  pan  and  shovel,  supper 
was  being  prepared.  Only  then  he  dis- 
covered the  posted  notices  of  location. 


A  Midnight  Desertion       91 

''  Do  these  things  mean  that  I  don't  get 
in  on  the  basin  gravel  ? "  he  demanded 
angrily. 

''  Seeing  ez  how  the  Jedge  first  discovered, 
and  first  located  it,  it  looks  like  ye'U  hev  to 
go  further  down  the  creek,"  Birkett  re- 
sponded. 

''  And  none  of  that,"  he  gasped,  pointing 
to  the  pile  of  gold  weighing  down  Birkett's 
coat,  "  none  of  that  is  mine?  " 

"  What's  panned  out  of  an  honest  claim 
belongs  to  the  owner :  no  matter  who  panned 
it.  A  considerable  number  of  misfortunit 
gentlemen  hev  ben  shot,  or  hanged,  jest  be- 
cause they  forgot  thet  law  of  all  mining 
camps." 

As  Birkett  said  this  he  eyed  Rawlins 
sharply.  The  latter's  manner  changed  ab- 
ruptly; he  laughed,  said  there  would  be 
enough  for  him  further  down  the  creek,  and 
set  about  making  himself  useful  with  camp 
duties. 

Around  the  drift-wood  fire  that  night,  the 


92  Fort  Birkett 

old  miner  told  tales  of  other  great  dis- 
coveries of  gold,  in  gravel,  and  in  quartz ; 
alike  in  that  all  had  been  made  by  accident, 
usually  by  inexperts.  Then,  when  the  two 
mountain  men  rolled  themselves  in  blankets, 
and  seemingly  slept,  the  Easterners  talked 
in  low  tones  of  the  wondrous  adventure  of 
the  day;  how,  for  the  younger,  it  altered, 
expanded,  brightened  future  plans;  of  fel- 
low students  whose  life  hopes  of  achievement 
through  study  he  would  now  make  real;  of  a 
lost  prominence  to  his  family  he  would  now 
restore.  The  elder  man  spoke  of  a  home 
enriched  by  all  that  art  could  supply ;  of  the 
gratitude  of  his  alma  mater  for  endowments 
to  add  to  her  renown  and  usefulness.  They 
spoke  slowl}^  their  words  halted,  ceased. 
All  was  quiet.  For  a  time  Rawlins  knew 
he  was  watched  by  Birkett;  but  the  old 
miner,  who  for  three  days  and  nights  had 
scarcely  closed  his  eyes,  fell  at  last  into  the 
sleep  of  a  body  fatigued,  a  mind  lulled  by 
dreams  of  dreams  realized. 


A  Midnight  Desertion       93 

The  sun  had  already  cast  off  its  early  robe 
of  orange  when  Birkett  awoke.  His  first 
glance  was  toward  the  spot  where  the  fire- 
light had  last  revealed  the  form  of  Rawlins. 
The  next  instant  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  ran  to 
the  entrance  of  the  basin,  looked  down  the 
gorge,  and  then  his  shouts  awakened  his 
companions : 

"  Rawlins  is  gone,  and  the  horses  with 
him!" 

"And  the  gold,  too!"  Mr.  Pelham  cried 
angrily. 

"  The  gold  he  took  isn't  a  leetle  drop  in  a 
big  bucket  to  what's  left  for  us  to  take," 
Birkett  said,  and  added  in  a  significant  tone, 
''  ef  we  ken  protect  ourselves  while  we  mine 
it." 

'*  Protect  ourselves?  "  exclaimed  Lennox, 
puzzled. 

Then,  with  a  shock  of  understanding,  he 
searched  the  ground  by  the  side  of  his 
blanket,  and  soon  cried  in  dismay :  "  He  has 
taken  my  rifle !  " 


94  Fort  Birkett 

"  Mine,  too,"  Birkett  responded  dryly. 
"  Well,  no  man  ever  discovered  gold  thet 
didn't  discover  trouble  with  it.  Before  we 
start  washing  out  gold,  I  guess,  gentlemen, 
we'll  jest  see  what  kind  of  a  fort  this  basin 
will  make,  and  how  much  grub  we  hev  on 
hand.'* 


CHAPTER  VIII 

RECRUITS    FOR    DICK    RAWLINS 

Late  the  next  morning,  Rawlins,  with  his 
stolen  horses  dead  beat,  reached  the  ravine 
by  which  Dr.  Hammatt  and  the  wounded 
"  stranger  "  entered  the  trail  to  the  Meadow. 
There  he  turned  aside,  picketed  the  animals, 
and  threw  himself  on  the  ground ;  exhausted 
by  the  toil  of  the  previous  day,  his  sleepless 
night,  the  forced  march  since  deserting  the 
party  in  the  basin.  He  might  have  made  the 
short  distance  further  to  the  Meadow,  but 
he  wished  not  to  be  seen  with  his  stolen 
horses  and  arms  by  others  than  his  fellow 
bandits.  On  this  account  he  determined  to 
rest  in  the  ravine,  until  darkness  insured  an 
unobserved  visit  to  the  companions  he 
expected  to  find  in  hiding  near  the  ranch 
house.  This  precaution  would  have  served 
95 


96  Fort  Birkett 

his  purpose  ordinarily;  but  it  chanced  that, 
as  he  urged  his  weary  animals  up  the  trail, 
Constance  Farwell  leisurely  rode  down  it 
toward  a  thicket  of  manzanita.  There  she 
dismounted  and  stood  beneath  the  distorted 
limbs  in  reverie.  Her  senses  were  so  pro- 
foundly sunk  in  the  pleasant  deeps  of  her 
thoughts  that  Rawlins  might  have  discovered 
her  but  for  a  tremor  of  the  reins  upon  her 
arm,  which  roused  her  to  mark  the  keenly 
forepointed  ears,  the  questioning  eyes,  of  her 
horse.  Now,  as  sensitively  alert  as  the 
animal,  she  felt,  rather  than  heard,  distant 
brunt  of  hoof  on  rock. 

She  flushed,  and  repeated  Lennox's 
words :  "  Not  good-by.  I  shall  see  you 
again." 

''Could  he  be  returning,  already?"  she 
asked  herself,  and  the  hope  that  answered 
'*  Yes  "  quickened  her  heart. 

Then,  in  alarm,  came  another  question: 
''Why  return  so  soon?"  The  flush  faded 
from  her  face,  as  her  ear  told  her  that  the 


Recruits  for  Dick  Rawlins    97 

approaching  horses  were  hurried.  ''  An 
accident !  " 

Her  cheeks  slowly  re-reddened,  as  she 
shyly  indulged  thoughts  of  a  reason  which 
would  return  Lennox  to  her,  aye!  with  the 
urgency  she  would  go  to  him — if  she  might ! 

She  withdrew,  with  her  horse,  well  into 
the  thicket;  and,  with  Indian-taught  craft, 
concealed  herself  where  she  could  yet  com- 
mand a  view  of  the  trail.  But  Constance's 
heart  had  not  been  taught  concealment,  and 
while  she  took  the  red  man's  precaution  not 
to  be  seen,  if  it  chanced  that  a  stranger  ap- 
proached, her  eyes  spoke  gentle  hope  that  it 
would  be  a  friend. 

Alas!  hope  died  from  the  shock  of  fear 
which  struck  her  heart  at  the  sight  of  the 
first  horse  that  came  into  view — Lennox's, 
saddled,  but  riderless!  Then  came  Birkett's 
— the  rifles  of  both  slung  to  their  saddles — 
Mr.  Pelham's,  the  pack  animals,  packless, 
and  last,  Rawlins,  with  evil,  haggard  face, 
carrying  in  front  of  him  on  his  saddle  some- 


98  Fort  Birkett 

thing  heavy,  wrapped  and  bound  in  a  man\ 
coat. 

Constance  must  have  fainted,  for  she 
heard  no  sound  of  hoofs  when  she  was  again 
conscious  of  wondering  what  calamity  had 
sent  back  the  travelers'  train  driven  by 
Rawlins ! 

Over  a  trail  so  little  used,  it  was  an  easy 
task  for  Constance  to  trace  Rawlins  to  the 
ravine.  Up  that,  from  tree  to  tree,  stealthy 
as  the  shadow  of  a  cloud,  she  proceeded,  until 
she  discovered  the  tired  horses,  stripped 
and  picketed,  and  the  bandit  asleep,  but 
clutching  the  package  he  had  carried  on  his 
saddle. 

Dr.  Hammatt  had  been  called  away  that 
morning  to  attend  a  colonist's  child,  at  some 
distance  from  the  Meadow;  thus  Constance 
was  deprived  of  the  advice  to  which  she 
would  have  confidently  turned. 

Martha  was  wise  in  any  emergency,  but, 
rather  than  concern  her  with  a  story  but  half 


Recruits  for  Dick  Rawlins    99 

known,  Constance  resolved  to  learn,  with 
the  aid  of  Indian  Sam,  the  fate  or  where- 
abouts of  the  travelers.  So,  when  she  re- 
turned home,  it  was  to  him  alone  she  spoke 
of  her  day's  adventure,  and  asked  his  help. 

To  track  a  white  man  in  spectral  silence, 
with  a  patience  that  knew  no  end,  was  occu- 
pation more  congenial  to  Captain  Sam  than 
to  superintend  other  Indians  in  the  homely 
labors  of  the  ranch.  He  accepted  the  task 
with  gruff  assurance  of  understanding ;  say- 
ing that  he  would  keep  Rawlins  in  sight 
until  he  made  some  move,  and  report  later 
to  Miss  Connie.  Then,  with  his  aquiline 
eyes  alight  with  a  long-latent  fire,  he  struck 
off  for  the  ravine. 

Constance  knew  how  certain  the  Indian 
would  be  in  his  work ;  yet,  after  leaving  her 
aunt  as  early  in  the  evening  as  she  could 
without  exciting  question,  she  was  filled  with 
anxiety  when  she  retired  to  her  room  to 
await  the  Indian's  signal. 

It  was  full  two  hours  after  dark  before  the 


loo  Fort  Birkett 

signal  came,  and  at  its  sound — the  call  of  a 
night  bird — she  quietly  left  the  house,  and 
joined  the  Indian  where  he  waited,  still  as 
the  night  itself. 

Without  speaking,  but  with  a  sign  of  cau- 
tion, he  led  Constance  nearly  a  mile  up  the 
trail  by  which  our  travelers  first  reached  the 
Meadow.  There  he  turned  to  the  right,  and 
entered  a  redwood  forest,  which  they  pene- 
trated a  few  hundred  yards,  when  they  saw 
the  glow  of  a  low-burning  camp-fire.  At 
the  instant  of  this  discovery  Constance  was 
startled  by  sounds  of  angry  voices.  She 
knew  this  was  the  camp  of  the  wounded 
''  stranger  "  and  his  followers,  who  had  left 
their  retreat  in  the  stables  early  that  morn- 
ing. Sam  told  her  that  until  now  the  ban- 
dits had  maintained  strict  silence,  and  been 
guarded  by  sentries,  so  she  was  puzzled  by 
the  present  disregard  of  precaution  against 
intruders. 

"  Have  they  quarreled  ?  "  she  whispered 
to  the  Piute. 


Recruits  for  Dick  RavvlinS  ibii*  i 

''  You  see,  pretty  soon." 

Until  then  he  had  kept  a  mask  of  trees 
between  them  and  the  fire,  but  now,  with 
Constance  close  following,  he  slowly  ad- 
vanced until,  at  last,  they  crouched  behind  a 
fallen  redwood,  whose  tangle  of  upturned 
roots  made  a  tattered  screen,  through  which 
the  camp  came  into  view  like  a  suddenly  dis- 
closed scene  upon  the  stage.  On  a  bed  of 
boughs,  overlaid  with  a  single  blanket,  lay 
the  wounded  man,  Frank  Evanson ;  his  face, 
unshapen  by  pain  and  anger,  sharply 
pictured  by  the  firelight.  Seated  about  a 
saddle  cloth  spread  upon  the  ground  were 
Rawlins  and  four  of  his  fellow  ban- 
dits. 

In  a  tense  hush,  caused  by  the  sight  of 
something  Rawlins  had  just  revealed,  the 
others  watched  him  with  rapacious  eyes. 

"  Proof?  ''  Rawlins  cried.  "  You  say  you 
want  proof  of  what  I  tell  you?  There's 
proof!" 

He  flung  a  handful  of  gold  on  the  cloth. 


,io2  --.Fort  Birkett 

The  others  sprang  upon  it,  tore  at  it,  Hke 
wolves  on  a  stricken  prey. 

Rawlins  laughed.  "  Keep  it,  boys,"  he 
said.     ''  Here's  more !  and  more !  " 

He  thrust  his  hands  into  a  bundle  held  on 
his  lap,  and  threw  more  gold  on  the  cloth, 
while  the  others  snatched,  and  fought  for  it, 
snarling. 

"  Don't  quarrel,  boys,"  he  cried;  and,  lift- 
ing Birkett's  coat,  he  poured  forth  its  burden 
of  nuggets  in  a  stream  that  caught  the 
glow  of  the  fire,  and  shone  ominously 
red. 

His  companions  gasped,  while  wonder 
stayed  their  hands. 

"  Will  you  go  with  me  where  that  can  be 
shoveled  up  like  dust  in  the  road?  Is  that 
more  worth  your  while  than  fighting  a 
sheriff's  posse — for  nothing?  " 

He  hesitated  at  an  exclamation  of  rage 
from  Evanson,  but  then  continued  hurriedly, 
turning  his  glance  from  the  wounded  man  to 
the  inflamed  faces  about  him : 


Recruits  for  Dick  Rawlins  103 

"  It's  the  old  river  bed  men  have  hunted 
ever  since  men  came  into  these  mountains 
hunting  for  gold.  Everybody  knows  that 
some  river  was  yellow  with  the  gold  that's 
scattered  through  miles  of  sand  and  gravel 
in  the  upper  end  of  Mojave  Desert.  It  was 
the  river  that  once  fell  into  that  basin  and 
flowed  through  that  gorge.  The  gold  in  the 
Mojave  is  only  the  dust  that  drifted  out, 
miles  and  miles  away.  In  the  gorge  it 
settled,  heavy,  thick!  I  heard  Birkett  tell 
the  Easterners.  Is  Birkett  a  fool  ?  He  said 
that  that  basin  holds  tons  of  gold !  Tons  of 
gold!  Are  you  going  to  leave  it  to  Birkett, 
who's  not  one  of  us,  and  those  Easterners,  to 
carry  away  ?  It's  in  our  mountains — at  our 
hands  to  take — tons  of  gold!  " 

As  he  ceased  speaking  he,  and  they  who 
had  listened,  looked  again  at  Evanson,  but 
defiantly,  now. 

"  Dick  Rawlins,"  Evanson  said,  with 
effort  to  be  calm,  ''  the  gold  belongs  to  the 
men  who  discovered  it." 


I04  Fort  Birkett 

**  Of  course  no  one  else  here  ever  took 
gold  that  wasn't  his,"  Rawlins  sneered. 

"  You  mean  that  for  me,  and  you  dare  to 
say  it  because  I'm  wounded,  helpless,"  con- 
tinued Evanson.  "  Yes,  I've  taken  money 
that  didn't  belong  to  me;  took  it  from  a  com- 
pany that  robbed  and  wronged  me,  that 
murdered  my  people.  I  risk  my  life  to  take 
it,  and  give  it  to  those  who  need  it.  You 
ask  these  men  to  desert  me ;  to  murder  those 
who've  done  us  no  harm,  who've  been  guests 
under  the  roof  of  Dr.  Hammatt,  our  best 
friend.  Cowardly !  If  I  could  raise  a  hand 
to  hold  a  gun,  you'd  not  ask  my  men  to  help 
you  rob  strangers  of  gold,  after  you'd  stolen 
their  arms." 

He  paused  to  note  the  effect  of  his  words, 
and  his  eyes  filled  with  angry  contempt ;  for 
none  listened  to  him  as  they  fondled  the 
gold,  absorbed  in  Rawlins'  plans. 

''It's  the  easiest  game  you  ever  had,  boys," 
he  was  saying.  "  They're  caught  like 
coyotes  in  a  trap.     They've  no  guns  to  fight 


Recruits  for  Dick  Rawlins   105 

with,  nor  horses  to  run  with.  Evanson  will 
be  all  right.  I'll  let  Piute  Sam  know  that 
he's  here  alone,  and  the  Indian  will  fetch 
what's  needed." 

''  That  won't  do,"  exclaimed  one.  ''  The 
Indian  will  tell  the  doctor's  granddaughter, 
and  we'll  have  worse  than  unarmed  men  to 
fight,  in  spite  of  the  doctor  being  away." 

**  What  do  you  mean?"  Rawlins  asked, 
turning  on  the  speaker. 

"  Oh,  she  was  mightily  taken  with  that 
pretty  Easterner  you  brought  through 
here." 

"She  was,  eh?"  Rawlins  said,  discom- 
fited by  the  laugh  greeting  the  other's  re- 
marks. ''  Well,  she'll  be  mightily  taken 
with  me  when  I  court  her  with  a  bagful  of 
gold.  You  needn't  fear  Indian  Sam ;  a  few 
of  these  nuggets  will  fix  him.  The  Piute 
never  lived  who  wouldn't  sell  his  best  friend 
for  yellow  dust." 

''Did  you  bring  away  their  ammuni- 
tion?" 


io6  Fort  Birkett 

"  I  brought  Birkett's.  The  rest  I  couldn't 
find.  Anyway,  I  had  to  push  the  horses, 
and  didn't  care  to  load  them  with  useless 
weight.  What  cartridges  they've  got  will 
harm  nobody — with  no  guns  to  shoot  'em 
with." 

Rawlins  saw  now  that  the  men  were  ready 
to  desert  with  him;  and  when  one  asked  his 
plan,  he  spoke  as  if  in  acknowledged  au- 
thority : 

''  To-morrow  we'll  move  down  to  the 
mesa  and  camp  above  the  basin.  We'll  have 
a  look  at  Birkett's  party  to  see  if  they've  done 
anything  to  defend  themselves,  and  decide 
whether  to  rush  'em  then,  or  make  into  the 
gorge  lower  down,  and  come  upon  'em  in  the 
night." 

"If  we  wait  until  to-morrow  night  they'll 
be  gone  with  all  the  gold  they  can  pack  on 
their  backs,"  said  one  of  the  bandits. 

"  The  more  gold  they  take  out  the  less  trou- 
ble for  us,"  Rawlins  responded.  "  If  they 
try  to  make  a  run  for  it  without  horses,  we'll 


Recruits  for  Dick  Rawlins   107 

soon  overtake  'em.  But  the  chances  are  Bir- 
kett  will  stick  to  the  basin,  and  not  try  to  get 
away  without  saddle  or  pack  animals." 

Sam,  peering  through  the  screen  of  roots, 
felt  Constance  signal  to  him  with  her  hand 
on  his  arm,  and  followed  her  as  she  moved 
silently  toward  the  road.  When  they  had 
retreated  some  distance  she  whispered,  ''  Did 
you  see  the  rifles  Rawlins  stole?  They 
leaned  against  the  opposite  side  of  the  roots; 
I  could    almost  touch  them." 

The  Indian  nodded. 

''  Can  you  get  them  when  the  men  are 
asleep?  " 

"  Get  'em  now." 

''  As  soon  as  you  can.  Bring  them  to  me 
at  home." 

As  she  started  to  leave,  he  said : 

''  Miss  Connie." 

"Well,  Sam?" 

"  Maybe  Sam  bad  Indian.  Maybe  he  sell 
Miss  Connie  for  yellow  dust." 

She  put  her  hand  on  the  old  man's  arm  and 


io8  Fort  Birkett 

said,  ''  You  would  not  betray  Miss  Connie — 
not  for  your  life's  blood." 

She  left  him;  and  when  obliterating 
shadow  effaced  her  form,  he  stroked  the  place 
on  his  sleeve  where  Constance's  hand  had 
rested;  and,  while,  with  steadfast  eyes,  he 
watched  a  star  traverse  its  hour's  arc  of  the 
heavens,  he  yet  gently  stroked  the  sleeve  as  if 
it  were  some  small  creature  that  he  loved. 


CHAPTER  IX 

UNEXPECTED    PERIL 

After  ascertaining  what  they  supposed  to 
be  the  worst  of  their  phght,  and  finding  that 
Rawlins  had  not  levied  on  their  store  of  pro- 
visions, the  party  in  the  basin  held  a  council ; 
and  therein  Birkett  made  a  blunt  statement 
of  their  exigency,  which,  he  saw,  the  East- 
erners did  not  yet  realize.  He  told  them  in 
his  way  that  the  men  with  Evanson,  though 
less  noted  outlaws  than  the  train  robbers, 
were  more  to  be  feared.  They  were  of  a  class 
with  Rawlins;  desperadoes,  without  Evan- 
sons'  measure  of  grace ;  lawless  vagabonds  of 
the  foothills  and  mountains,  who  robbed 
miners'  cabins  of  small  stores  of  gold,  stole 
horses,  invaded  isolated  settlements  where, 
if  resisted,  murder  was  added  to  other  crimes. 
The  protection  they  gave  Evanson  and  Tag- 
109 


no  Fort  Birkett 

gert  was  not  based  on  the  motive  which  in- 
fluenced Dr.  Hammatt  in  his  care  for 
wounded  ''  strangers,"  but  was  in  return  for 
a  share  of  the  train  robbers'  booty. 

"It  appears,  then,"  said  Mr.  Pelham, 
whose  boisterous  wrath  had  subsided  into 
calm  heed  of  their  state,  ''that  we  face  a 
probable  encounter  with  men  who  will  not 
hesitate  at  bodily  harm  if  we  attempt  to 
maintain  our  lawful  occupancy  of  this 
ground." 

"Thet's  purty  nigh  the  proposition, 
Jedge,"  assented  Birkett,  and  then  mur- 
mured softly,  "  Bodily  harm !    Be-eautiful !  " 

"  Then  it  is  our  duty,"  resumed  Mr.  Pel- 
ham,  ''  to  leave  here  at  once,  return  with  an 
adequate  force,  arrest  these  villains,  and  re- 
cover our  gold  mines." 

Birkett  looked  at  the  speaker  for  some  time 
before  he  replied.  "  Excuse  me,  Jedge,"  he 
said  at  last,  patiently,  "  ye  don't  savvy  the 
game  ez  it  is  laid  out — and  ez  it's  laid  out  it 
must  be  played." 


Unexpected  Peril  iii 

"  One  moment,  Mr.  Birkett,"  interrupted 
the  lawyer,  blinking  in  his  effort  to  master 
the  guide's  figure  of  speech.  "  There  is  a 
game,  it  appears,  governed  by  rules  in  whose 
making  we  have  no  choice.  So.  It  fur- 
ther appears  that  we  are  required  to  play, 
whether  we  are  sportively  inclined  or 
the  contrary.  Very  well:  now,  what  is 
the  game?  " 

''  Jedge,"  exclaimed  Birkett  delightedly, 
**  it's  easy  to  explain  to  a  party  thet  hez  yer 
knack  at  catching  the  idee.  The  game  is 
this :  We  know  too  much  to  be  let  to  trail 
out  of  here.  We  know  whar  this  amazing 
pay  gravel  is;  we  know  whar  this  gang  is, 
and,  ez  you  was  remarking,  ef  we  got  out 
we'd  likely  come  in  with  an  ad'quet  force — 
which  I  take  to  be  a  posse — and  thet  would 
upset  Rawlins'  gang's  plan  ez  to  this  here 
gold;  and  likewise  upset  the  gang.  I  don't 
jest  reckon  thet  Rawlins'  party  would  let  us 
pull  our  freight,  knowing  what  we'd  do  ef  we 
got  out." 


112  Fort  Birkett 

''  Do  we  wholly  depend  upon  Rawlins* 
permission  to  go?  " 

*'  Not  ef  WQ  had  animals  to  travel  on. 
Without  horses,  yes." 

"  The  fact  seems  to  be,  sir,"  said  Lennox, 
''  that,  whether  we  wish  to  or  not,  we  must 
make  a  stand;  and,  without  arms,  we  can 
make  some  sort  of  defense  here;  in  the 
open,  none." 

Mr.  Pelham  pursed  his  lips,  looked  from 
Lennox  to  Birkett,  but  remained  silent. 

"  The  Colonel,"  remarked  the  old  miner, 
"  hez  put  the  case  in  what  ye  might  call  a 
neat  and  tasty  manner." 

"  It's  not  a  question,  then,"  Mr.  Pelham 
said  at  last,  "  whether  we  shall  retreat  or 
defend  ourselves,  but  how  best  to  defend  our- 
selves." 

''  Precisely,  Jedge,"  exclaimed  Birkett. 
"  It's  root  hog  or  die." 

"  The  choice,"  said  Mr.  Pelham,  in  sud- 
den cheeriness,  ''  is  easily  made.  Let  us 
root" 


Unexpected  Peril  113 

*'  Good,"  cried  Lennox.  "  Now,  friend 
Birkett,  what's  to  be  done  ?  " 

"  In  the  fust  place,  Colonel,"  said  Birkett, 
his  grizzled  face  reflecting  the  others'  cheer- 
fulness, ''  ye  get  out  of  those  purty  store 
riding  clothes,  put  on  the  rough  togs  I've 
seen  in  the  pack,  thet  I  reckon  you  meant  to 
examine  the  borax  deposit  in,  and  then  ye'll 
be  more  fit  for  work." 

"And  the  work?" 

''  The  work  is,  to  build  what  ye  might  call 
a  fort." 

All  day  they  worked  ceaselessly.  Across 
the  narrow  entrance  to  the  basin,  and  bridg- 
ing the  stream,  a  wall  of  logs  and  rocks,  six 
feet  high,  was  built.  Inside  the  basin,  eight 
feet  back  from  the  wall  and  the  same  space 
apart,  two  posts  were  set  up,  and  a  log,  rest- 
ing on  these  posts,  made  a  support  for  the 
roof,  which  extended  thence  to  the  top  of  the 
w^all.  The  roof,  better  to  resist  bullets  fired 
from  above,  was  made  of  stout  pifion  boughs, 
packed  with  bunch  grass,  and  overlaid  with 


114  Fort  Birkett 

as  much  sand  as  it  would  bear.  Thus  they 
had  a  retreat  open  toward  the  pool,  and  on 
both  sides,  but  walled  across  the  gorge  side, 
from  which  direction,  the  builders  supposed, 
attack  would  most  likely  come.  Indeed,  the 
only  other  point  of  attack  was  from  the  edge 
of  the  precipice  above  the  basin.  Entrance 
from  the  gorge  was  under  the  low  bridge 
made  by  the  span  of  the  wall  across  the  creek. 
Within  the  fort,  on  one  side  of  the  creek,  was 
a  margin  of  pebbly  beach,  affording  room 
for  storage  of  packs,  and  on  the  other  side 
was  ample  space  for  their  blanket  beds. 

Birkett  cooked  the  bear  meat,  sacked  it, 
and  stored  it  on  a  rock  shelf. 

''  This,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  when, 
wearied,  but  content  with  the  result  of  their 
labor,  they  sat  down  to  supper,  "  this  isn't 
jest  wh^t  might  be  called  a  Palace  Hotel 
parlor  bedroom,  but,  considering  things,  we 
hev  a  tol'ably  fair  cabin;  warranted  bullet 
and  earthquake  proof." 

"And  its  name,"  Mr.  Pelham  declared, 


Unexpected  Peril  115 

handing  the  guide  a  cup  of  tea,  then  rising 
and  bowing  to  him  ceremoniously,  "  is  Fort 
Birkett!" 

"  Hurrah  for  Fort  Birkett !  "  cried  Len- 
nox, jumping  to  his  feet.  ''  In  the  cup  that 
cheers  Mr.  Pelham,  and  inebriates  no  one, 
let  us  drink  to  the  success  of  Fort  Birkett. 
Speech !  speech !  " 

"  Gents,  all,"  said  the  old  miner,  rising 
slowly,  then  pausing  to  take  a  scalding 
mouthful  from  the  tin  cup  he  held,  "  gents, 
all,  ye  do  me  honor.  Not  wishing  to  be  in 
better  company,  but  only  wishing  he  could 
know  what  good  pardners  I  hev  at  present,  I 
wish  Tom  Matthews  could  see  me  now." 

''  John  Birkett,"  said  Mr.  Pelham,  "  if  the 
late  Mr.  Matthews  was  as  good  a  man  as  his 
partner,  he  is  where  he  can  look  down  on 
you  now,  or  I  forswear  my  creed." 

"  Thank  ye,  Jedge,  thank  ye.  A  good 
word  for  Tom's  memory  is  pleasant  to  hear, 
sir." 

The  night  was  divided  into  three  watches. 


ii6  Fort  Birkett 

The  first  was  given  to  Mr.  Pelham,  but  he 
had  the  others  to  share  it  with  him,  for  sleqp 
would  not  come  at  their  bidding.  The  sec- 
ond watch  Birkett  stood,  and  Lennox  the 
third. 

The  gorge  was  yet  in  the  somber  gloom 
of  night,  although  a  ghostly  dawnlight  was 
already  revealing  the  high  peaks  to  the  south 
when  Lennox,  pacing  the  bank  of  the  creek 
a  little  outside  the  fort,  halted  abruptly,  in 
a  daze,  then  sprang  down  the  gorge  crying, 
''Constance!  Constance!"  He  had  heard 
his  own  name  called,  and,  far  away  and  faint 
as  was  the  voice,  he  knew  it  was  hers.  Led 
by  each  other's  voice,  they  drew  together, 
calling  "  Constance,"  "  Vanderlyn."  But 
when  they  met,  and  he  clasped  her  hands,  she 
drew  away  from  him,  and  in  a  voice  which 
had  been  brave  and  steady  when  they  were 
far  apart,  but  trembled  now,  she  asked, 
"  You  are  safe — well — all  of  you,  Mr.  Len- 
nox? " 

''  Yes,  Miss  Farwell." 


Unexpected  Peril  117 

She  had  come  into  the  gorge  some  miles 
below,  where  the  south  bank  was  more  shal- 
low, and  less  steep.  She  had  ridden  her 
horse  until  she  had  heard  Lennox  call  her 
name.  ''  Then  I  left  him,"  she  said.  "  He 
was  so  slow,  finding  his  way  in  the  dark, 
among  the  boulders.  He  would  not  hurry !  " 
She  was  suddenly  glad  of  the  darkness,  that 
he  could  not  see  how  she  blushed  at  what 
she  said. 

''  I  hurried,  too,"  he  answered. 

"  Here,"  she  said  quickly.  "  I  brought 
your  rifle,  and  Mr.  Birkett's.  And  I  have  my 
own." 

He  took  the  two  rifles  with  a  cry  of  de- 
light. 

''  I  have  a  belt  of  cartridges  for  my  rifle," 
she  continued.  ''  I  brought  none  for  yours, 
because  I  knew  that  Rawlins  did  not  take 
your  ammunition." 

"  I  have  cartridges,  and  you  give  me  heart 
by  returning  to  us  the  means  of  using  them." 

As  they  talked,  he  asking  anxious  ques- 


Ii8  Fort  Birkett 

tions  about  her  night  ride  from  the  Meadow, 
she  answering  simply,  the  dawn  rushed  down 
the  sides  of  the  mountains,  flooding  the 
gorge  with  its  orange  glow,  and  at  last  they 
could  look  into  each  other's  eyes.  Then 
they  spoke  no  more. 

"  Jedge !  Jedge !     It's  a  woman !  " 

Lennox,  hearing  this  shout  at  the  fort,  led 
Constance  there,  and  she  was  greeted  with 
many  words  of  praise  and  wonder  for  her 
plucky  ride  to  their  aid. 

"  And  Miss  Hammatt — did  she  come  with 
you  ?  "  Mr.  Pelham  asked. 

"  No,"  said  Constance,  smiling  at  some- 
thing. ''She  wanted  to  come;  but  my 
grandfather  is  away,  and  one  had  to  remain 
at  home." 

They  listened  with  increased  wonder  as 
she  told  them  how  she  had  learned  the  ban- 
dits' plans — though  she  said  nothing  of  her 
ride  to  the  manzanita  thicket,  where  she  first 
discovered  Rawlins'  perfidy.  The  Indian, 
Sam,  she  said,  would  remain  at  the  Meadow 


Uuexpected  Peril  119 

until  the  bandits  left ;  do  what  was  required 
for  Evanson's  comfort,  and  then  follow.  He 
would  keep  near  enough  to  the  bandits,  or,  if 
necessary,  join  them,  until  he  learned  their 
immediate  purpose. 

"  With  only  five  men  surrounding  you,  I 
can  slip  through  their  lines  without  much 
danger,''  Constance  said.  "  I  can  bring  Sam 
in,  too,  if  he  seems  more  needed  here  than 
outside.  It  is  now  a  matter  of  holding  out 
until  my  grandfather's  return,  when  he  will 
learn  at  once  of  your  situation,  from  my 
aunt." 

"And  when  will  Dr.  Hammatt  return?" 
Mr.  Pelham  asked  with  some  concern. 

"  In  two  or  three  days,  if  there  is  no  call 
for  his  help  other  than  that  he  set  out  to 
answer.  Then,  within  a  day,  he  can  collect 
enough  good  men  to  drive  Rawlins'  people 
away.  In  the  meantime,  with  three  rifles, 
and  protected  as  you  are,  you  can  repel  these 
wicked  men  if  they  are  so  desperate  as  to  at- 
tack you." 


I20  Fort  Birkett 

*'  My  dear  young  woman,"  exclaimed  Mr. 
Pelham,  '*  3^ou  have  done  us  a  wonderful 
service.  You  have  planned  your  movements 
like  a  general !  I  hope  to  escape  from  here  if 
only  to  devise  proper  means  of  showing  you 
our  gratitude  and  affection !  " 

Constance  glanced  at  Lennox,  and  seemed 
content,  when  their  eyes  met,  that  he  made 
no  other  acknowledgment  of  what  she  had 
done. 

"  Now,  my  dear  Miss  Farwell,"  continued 
Mr.  Pelham,  ''  you  have  been  without  sleep, 
and  are  fatigued.  You  require  rest  and  re- 
freshment." 

She  had  thought  little  of  the  hardship  of 
her  task,  for  the  motive  which  urged  her 
on  had  monopolized  her  thoughts;  but  she 
was  a  very  womanly  young  woman,  and  the 
gallantry  of  the  lawyer's  speech,  Lennox's 
silent  approval,  Birkett's  frank  praise, 
pleased  her.  With  the  first  coquetry  she  had 
ever  praticed  she  now  courtesied  to  the  law- 
yer, and,  translating  his  manner  into  the 


Unexpected  Peril  121 

feminine,  replied,  '*  My  dear  Mr.  Pelham,  a 
cup  of  tea  made  by  you  will  be  sufficient  evi- 
dence of  your  gratitude  and  affection.  Then 
I  will  rest,  for  to-night  I  must  meet  Sam, 
and  learn  what  plans  of  the  enemy  you 
should  prepare  to  resist." 

''  Brava !  "  cried  Mr.  Pelham.  "  Here  we 
have  a  lady  of  the  salon,  a  general,  and  an 
army,  combined  in  one  charming  young  per- 
son. Brava !  Van,  bacon,  sir,  in  your  best 
manner.  Birkett,  such  cakes  as  you  never 
made,  for  Captain  Molly  Pitcher ! '' 

When  all  had  breakfasted,  the  fort  was 
given  up  to  Constance.  Mr.  Pelham  went 
to  the  pool  to  practice  with  the  gold- 
washing  pan,  while  Birket  and  Lennox 
discussed  the  news  brought  in  by  Miss 
Farwell. 

"  One  thing  is  certain.  Colonel,"  the  guide 
said.  "  Jest  ez  soon  ez  Rawlins  finds  out  thet 
our  rifles  are  missing,  he'll  hustle  along  in 
this  direction.  Shouldn't  be  surprised  ef  we 
heerd  signs  of  him  by  noontime." 


122  Fort  Birkett 

"  Thank  Heaven,  we  are  prepared  for 
him,  now.'' 

"  It's  mighty  comforting  to  feel  this  gun 
in  my  hands  agin.  Reckon  we'd  better  load 
up,  so's  to  be  ready  for  any  leetle  gun  picnic 
we  may  be  invited  to  jine.  I  see  thet  Raw- 
lins hez  pumped  all  the  cartridges  out  of  the 
magazines  of  our  rifles." 

"  My  cartridges  are  in  the  package  we 
have  not  opened  yet ;  the  one  with  the  extra 
bacon  and  coffee." 

Birkett  stared  at  Lennox. 

"  Not  in  thet  package,  Colonel,"  he  said, 
and  his  voice  faltered.  "  I've  lost  my  sense 
of  heft  ef  thar's  lead  in  thet  package !  " 

Lennox  ran  to  the  fort,  brought  the  pack- 
age, nervously  opened  it,  and  disclosed  three 
sides  of  bacon,  three  tins  of  coffee,  and  six 
parcels  of  tea.  He  stared  at  the  things 
vacantly,  then  called  to  Mr.  Pelham.  "  Do 
you  remember,  sir,"  he  said,  "  taking  some 
cartridges  out  of  one  of  the  bundles  ?  " 

"Eh?    What?"  asked  the  lawyer,  look- 


Unexpected  Peril  123 

ing  up  from  his  work.  "  Cartridges?  Oh, 
to  be  sure.  They  were  in  the  way  when  I 
was  packing  a  little  extra  tea  I  had, 
and  " 

"And  you  put  them  in  another  bundle," 
interrupted  Lennox  desperately. 

^'  No-o,"  replied  Mr.  Pelham.  "  I  recall 
thinking  that  you  could  not  possibly  need  so 
much  ammunition,  so  I  left  them  with  my 
extra  baggage  at  Anderson's.  Why,  Van- 
derlyn!  What's  the  matter?  What  is  it, 
my  boy?  " 

Lennox,  nigh  overcome  by  the  sudden 
effacement  of  hope,  turned  away  without 
speaking.  Birkett  walked  to  the  upper 
end  of  the  basin,  put  his  head  in  the  spray  of 
the  falls,  and  muttered,  "  Extraordinary 
man,  the  Jedge !  Extraordinary,  ez  ye  mir;ht 
say.'' 

No  one  spoke  for  many  minutes.  Each 
felt  that  nothing  could  be  said  which  would 
not  certainly  be  futile,  and  probably  regret- 
tably.   Then  Constance  appeared,  refreshed, 


124  Fort  Birkett 

she  said,  by  her  rest,  and  Mr.  Pelham  told 
her  the  story;  sparing  himself  in  no  degree. 
"  Now,"  he  added,  and  his  manner  was  as  if 
their  ages  were  reversed,  "  now,  my  wise 
friend,  what  can  I  do?  " 

"  My  father's  rifle  is  of  the  same  caliber  as 
yours,"  she  said.  ''  He  has  a  supply  of  car- 
tridges." 

"  I  will  go  and  get  them,"  the  lawyer  said 
simply. 

''  'Twouldn't  be  wuth  trying,  Jedge," 
Birkett  commented.  "  No  one  with  less  craft 
than  Miss  Constance  could  get  out  of  here, 
unless  he  was  looking  for  more  trouble  than 
we  ken  let  ye  get  into.  It  will  be  mighty 
risky  even  for  her  to  go  out.  It's  no  use, 
Jedge." 

"Birkett,  Vanderlyn,"  said  Mr.  Pelham 
deliberately,  "  I  have  done  a  deed  of  crass 
stupidity,  at  best;  of  criminal  stupidity,  as 
events  prove.  I  shall  make  an  effort  to  rem- 
edy the  wrong  I've  done,  even  at  the  cost 
of  my  life,    I  believe  you  know  how  I  feel. 


Unexpected  Peril  125 

and  thank  you  for  the  restraint  you  show  in 
sparing  reproach.  As  to  my  making  the 
effort,  it  is  not  a  matter  for  discussion — I 
shall  make  it — and  you  will  add  to  your  kind- 
ness by  not  opposing  me." 

He  spoke  gravely,  showing  that  he  real- 
ized the  danger  he  chose  to  encounter ;  and, 
while  Birkett  only  looked  at  him  admiringly, 
Lennox  grasped  his  hand,  and  exclaimed, 
"  There  was  no  possibility  of  your — of  any- 
one's— ^knowing  that  the  cartridges  would 
become  a  life  or  death  necessity.  There  is 
no  reproach  for  you  in  my  heart." 

The  lawyer  answered  the  young  man  with 
an  affectionate  smile,  then  turned  to  Con- 
stance and  asked,  "  Now,  what  is  to  be  done 
to  start  this  marplot  on  the  way  to  the 
Meadow?" 

Constance  hesitated,  but  a  sign  from  Len- 
nox told  her  not  to  try  to  dissuade  Mr.  Pel- 
ham.  She  said  it  was  useless  to  attempt  to 
go  back  by  the  trail,  as  anyone  doing  so 
would  meet  Rawlins  coming  by  that  route. 


126  Fort  Birkett 

For  the  same  reason,  it  was  not  safe,  even, 
to  go  out  by  the  less  steep  side  of  the  gorge 
to  the  southland  turn  north  at  the  head  of  the 
basin.  Therefore  he  could  not  make  use  of 
her  horse.  The  only  way  was  to  scale  the 
steeper  side  to  the  north,  and  then  make  due 
west.  Mr.  Pelham,  she  said,  would  have  a 
rough  country  to  travel,  but,  if  his  strength 
was  equal  to  the  journey,  he  should  reach  the 
Meadow  before  daylight  the  next  morning. 
She  warned  him  not  to  speak  to  any  of  the 
ranch  laborers,  who  were  casually  hired  In- 
dians, and  not  to  be  trusted.  ''  Go  directly 
to  my  aunt,  explain  everything  to  her,  and 
abide  by  her  advice  as  to  the  manner  of  your 
return,"  she  said. 

Mr.  Pelham  listened  to  the  girl  as  if  she 
were  a  client  explaining  the  vital  point  of  an 
important  case,  and  when  she  concluded,  he 
said,  "  I  understand;  I  shall  start  at  once." 

And  he  did  start  as  soon  as  Birkett  had 
made  up,  and  fastened  to  his  belt,  a  little 
package  of  food. 


Unexpected  Peril  127 

They  watched  him  make  the  steep  ascent 
up  the  north  side  of  the  gorge,  showing  un- 
expected skill  in  selecting  boulders  and 
stunted  trees  to  aid  his  progress;  and  finally 
returned  his  cheerful  hand- wave  before  he 
disappeared  beyond  the  edge  of  the  bluff. 


CHAPTER   X 

THE    CAPTURE    OF    CONSTANCE 

It  was  not  more  than  an  hour  after  the 
lawyer's  departure  when  Birkett,  who  had 
kept  close  scrutiny  on  the  woods  fringing  the 
upper  edge  of  the  basin,  said  quietly,  ''  I 
guess,  Colonel,  we'd  better  get  inside  the 
fort  and  find  out  ef  it's  bullet-proof." 

"  I've  seen  no  signs  of  men,"  said  Lennox, 
who  also  had  been  watching. 

"  Neither  hev  I,"  replied  the  guide.  ''  But 
I  figure  out  thet  the  birds  hev — them  ez  hez 
bin  flying  from  the  woods  up  yonder.  Look 
like  they  was  kind  of  skipping  out  for  their 
health." 

Inside  the  fort  Constance  helped  to  pre- 
pare dinner,  and  a  half-hour  passed  before 
further  alarm,  but  this  was  one  that  made 
them  all  start — a  crash  of  rifles,  followed  by 
128 


The  Capture  of  Constance    129 

a  battering  of  bullets  on  the  roof,  and  a 
shower  of  sand  which  sifted  down  on  the 
inmates. 

''  Thet  suit  was  played  to  see  ef  we  hev 
cards  to  follow,"  Birkett  said.  ''  We'll  give 
'em  a  notion  thet  we're  holding  tol'ably 
strong  hands.  Hold  yer  rifle  out,  Colonel, 
jest  ez  I  hold  mine,  so  ez  it  ken  be  seen. 
Now,  Miss  Connie,  don't  expose  yerself,  but 
pump  out  three  shots,  fast  ez  ye  ken.  I 
reckon  the  trick  will  fool  'em." 

Constance  obeyed,  when  another  volley 
had  been  sent  down  from  above,  and  while 
conspicuous  display  was  made  of  the  three 
rifles  from  as  many  sides  of  the  fort,  she 
fired  three  times,  rapidly. 

The  ruse  had  an  effect,  for  the  attacking 
party  withdrew,  evidently  for  consultation. 
Later,  single  shots  from  various  places  on 
the  cliff  were  directed  at  a  single  point  on  the 
roof,  with  the  purpose,  it  seemed,  of  tear- 
ing a  breach  through  which  the  fort's  in- 
mates could  be  reached.    Lennox,  when  he 


130  Fort  Birkett 

realized  this  design,  took  Constance's  rifle, 
saying,  "  It  must  be  made  unsafe  for  them  to 
bore  a  hole  through  our  defense.  Can  you 
locate  any  of  those  men  for  me,  Birkett  ?  " 

The  guide  lay  on  his  back  and  slowly 
pushed  his  head  out  beyond  the  line  of  the 
roof,  screening  himself  with  one  of  the  pinon 
boughs  which  littered  the  ground  near  by. 
Lennox  did  the  same,  and  Birkett  directed 
his  attention  to  a  movement  of  the  under- 
brush by  the  side  of  a  tree  growing  so  close 
to  the  edge  of  a  cliff  that  some  of  its  roots 
were  exposed. 

"  Thar's  one  gun,"  he  whispered.  ''  I 
kain't  see  the  man  back  of  it;  but  when  he 
fires  his  hands  will  be  in  sight." 

Lennox,  with  Constance's  rifle  in  hand, 
crouched  inside  the  fort,  like  a  runner  await- 
ing the  signal  to  start. 

*'  Let  me  know  when  that  fellow  fires," 
he  said  to  Birkett.  There  was  one  shot,  then 
another,  and  at  the  second  the  guide  shouted : 
"  Now !  "      On  the  word,  Lennox  sprang 


The  Capture  of  Constance    131 

into  the  open,  raised,  and  sighted  his  rifle 
as  he  did  so,  and  as  he  stood  erect  fired.  The 
shot  was  answered  by  a  cry  of  pain,  and 
something  rattled  down  the  side  of  the  cliff, 
falling  at  the  edge  of  the  pool.  Lennox,  a 
target  for  several  hasty  shots,  dashed  for 
the  fallen  object  and  brought  it  to  the  fort — 
a  rifle,  broken  and  bent. 

"  We  have  one  gun  less  to  fight,"  he  said, 
as  he  handed  the  weapon  to  Birkett. 

The  old  man  took  the  gun,  and  remarked 
as  he  examined  it,  ''  And  they  hev  one  less 
hand  to  pull  a  trigger."  He  pointed  to  a 
smear  of  blood  on  the  stock.  "  It  was  a  good 
shot.  Colonel.  It  hez  made  'em  draw  off 
agin,  so  I'll  jest  hustle  and  patch  up  the  roof. 
But  look  to  Miss  Connie !  " 

Constance  had  said  nothing  when  Lennox 
took  her  rifle;  had  watched  him  with  con- 
cern, but  approval,  as  he  left  the  shelter  of 
the  fort ;  had  shown  pride  as  he  brought  in 
the  weapon,  but,  at  the  sight  of  the  blood, 
some  quick  change  in  her  emotions  nearly 


132  Fort  Birkett 

overcame  her.  Lennox  thought  she  had 
been  moved  by  that  which  had  made  him 
pale — for  the  first  sight  of  blood,  shed  when 
life  is  at  stake,  is  a  dreadful  thing.  He 
threw  the  useless  weapon  far  into  the  gorge 
and  hastened  to  her  side. 

"You  were  hurt!"  she  said.  "That 
blood — it  is  yours?  " 

"  Not  mine,"  he  answered,  and  flushed, 
noting  the  relief  that  calmed  her  eyes. 

Birkett,  who  rightly  supposed  that  the 
damage  to  the  enemy's  force  and  the  enemy's 
surprise  at  finding  the  fort  armed,  would 
cause  a  halt  in  hostilities,  hastily  repaired  the 
roof  as  well  as  he  could  from  the  inside,  re- 
placing the  bullet-torn  boughs  with  heavier 
ones. 

"  Never  made  a  defense  from  an  at- 
tack on  high.  Had  to  learn  a  leetle  from 
experience,"  he  remarked,  when  he  finished 
the  work.  "  My  cup  of  coffee  being  sugared 
with  sand,  I'll  trouble  ye  for  another.  Miss 
Connie.    Better  take  one  vourself." 


The  Capture  of  Constance    133 

"  I  shall  make  us  all  a  good  hot  meal,'* 
Constance  replied  cheerfully,  and  the  old 
man  turned  away  to  hide  his  grin  of  delight 
in  her  change  of  mood. 

There  were  no  further  signs  of  the 
enemy,  but  so  long  as  daylight  lasted  the 
watchfulness  of  the  besieged  was  not 
relaxed. 

When  darkness  came  Constance  prepared 
to  go  out  for  her  planned  meeting  with  the 
Indian.  Lennox  objected  to  her  project. 
There  was  nothing  in  their  situation,  he 
urged,  to  call  for  the  risk  of  her  departure 
alone.  Why  was  it  necessary  for  her  to  go 
at  all?  Constance  replied  that  unless  she 
communicated  with  Sam,  they  would  remain 
wholly  in  ignorance  of  the  bandits'  designs. 
Without  an  assurance  of  Mr.  Pelham's  re- 
turn with  a  supply  of  ammunition,  their 
only  hope  lay  in  a  knowledge  which  would 
enable  them  to  outwit  the  besiegers;  and,  in 
that  respect,  Sam  alone  could  render  aid. 
She  must  see  him. 


T34  Fo^^  Birkett 

''  Then,"  declared  Lennox,  "  I  shall  go 
with  you." 

Constance  was  silent  and  embarrassed,  for 
she  feared  that  her  reason  for  wanting  to  go 
alone  would  be  interpreted  by  the  young 
man  as  a  doubt  of  his  courage.  Birkett, 
curiously  watching  their  perplexed  faces  by 
the  light  of  the  camp-fire,  spoke,  at  last, 
for  the  girl. 

"  It's  like  this.  Colonel,"  he  said.  ''  Miss 
Connie  is  no  ord'nary  mountaineer.  I 
watched  her  grow  up,  and  know  she  ken 
give  any  of  us  cards  and  spades  at  finding 
her  way,  off  a  trail  ez  well  ez  on.  She  could 
pass  a  foot  from  a  mountain  lion,  and  him 
not  know  anyone  was  nearer  than  the  man 
in  the  moon.  Ef  ye  go  out  with  her,  you'll 
more  than  double  the  chance  agin  her.  Thet 
chance  is  big  enough  ez  it  is.  To  be  sure,  if 
Rawlins'  gang  find  her  'tain't  likely  they 
would  harm  her.     But  if  they  get  you  " 

The  old  man  paused,  and  Lennox,  seeing 
his  meaning,  exclaimed  hotly,  "  Do  you  sup- 


The  Capture  of  Constance    135 

pose  any  danger  I  might  run  would  keep  me 
from  going  out?  " 

*'  Certainly  not,  Colonel/'  Birkett  replied, 
unruffled.  ''  Certainly  not.  But  how  about 
Jedge  Pelham,  ef  he  gets  back — not  to  men- 
tion one  John  Birkett?  Ef  ye  go  out,  and 
don't  get  in  agin,  our  chance  will  be  mighty 
slim." 

Lennox  did  not  reply,  and  Constance  said, 
"  You  could  not  help  me  by  going ;  you  can 
help  your  friends  by  staying." 

Lennox's  mind  was  in  a  struggle  between 
a  desire  to  accompany  the  girl  and  a  sense  of 
duty  to  his  friends.  Birkett,  seeing  that  it 
was  wise  not  to  further  urge  the  young  man, 
turned  to  Constance,  and  said,  "  Going  to 
take  your  horse  out?  " 

She  explained  that  the  nature  of  the  coun- 
try where  she  hoped  to  meet  the  Indian  made 
it  inexpedient  for  her  to  ride,  if  the  bandit 
sentinels  were  not  all  wholly  deaf.  Even  her 
skirt  would  be  a  great  handicap  to  her..  Bir- 
kett looked  at  the  young  man  who,  all  un- 


136  Fort  Birkett 

observant,  sat  with  his  face  buried  in  his 
arms.  Then  Birkett  carefully  extracted  from 
a  litter  of  Lennox's  belongings  the  young 
man's  riding  clothes,  nodded  at  them  gravely 
as  he  made  them  into  a  compact  bundle,  and 
said,  "  Yes,  Miss  Connie,  skirts  be  a  handi- 
cap, ez  ye  was  saying.  Ef  ye  only  was 
dressed  in  men's  clothes,  ye  could  make  twice 
the  distance  in  half  the  time,  without  a  quar- 
ter of  the  noise  or  risk." 

The  young  woman  blushed  furiously  when 
she  first  understood  Birkett's  meaning,  but 
as  he  continued  to  urge,  by  indirect  word, 
the  advantage  of  the  change,  she,  at  last, 
laughing  softly,  nodded  assent,  and  Birkett 
hid  the  bundle  for  her  a  little  way  down  the 
gorge. 

She  went  alone.  As  Lennox,  standing  the 
first  watch  of  the  night,  saw  her  noiselessly 
fade  into  the  shadow  of  the  gorge,  he  was  in 
a  tumult  of  doubt  and  fear.  Had  he  done 
right  ?  Should  he  not  have  gone  with  her — 
or  kept  her  with  him? 


The  Capture  of  Constance    137 

Before  she  began  the  ascent  to  the  trail, 
the  hunting  suit  Constance  wore  disap- 
peared, and  she  made  the  rough  cHmb  in  bet- 
ter-adapted garb. 

She  blushed  and  laughed  at  the  theft,  but 
soothed  her  conscience  with  the  thought  that 
Lennox's  riding  clothes,  which  Birkett  had 
appropriated  for  her,  made  possible  a  route 
which  required  her  now  to  creep  among 
rocks  and  trees,  now  to  cautiously  force  a 
passage  through  underbrush,  guided  only  by 
the  stars  that  gave  so  little  light  in  the  for- 
est. Slowly  working  westward,  she  had 
reached  a  point  about  a  mile  above  the  basin, 
but  not  more  than  a  hundred  yards  to  the 
south  of  the  trail,  when  she  began  to  strain  her 
eyes  for  signs  of  the  Indian,  for  it  was  near 
their  appointed  meeting  place.  At  a  sound 
she  stopped,  startled  at  hearing  Sam's  voice. 
Who  could  he  be  talking  to  ?  Himself  ?  Not 
at  such  a  time,  at  such  a  place !  The  sound 
was  now  a  crooning  song  of  the  Indian's 
tribe,  and  a  half-sense  of  danger  checked  the 


138  Fort  Birkett 

girl ;  for  it  was  the  song  the  old  Indian  had 
crooned  to  lull  her  panic  over  childish  mis- 
haps— a  fall  from  a  bareback  horse,  her  first 
sight  of  a  bear.  She  could  see  nothing,  and 
resumed  her  cautious  advance.  The  song 
ceased,  and  the  Indian  said,  "  Sam  he  take 
smoke.  Nobody  come,  I  think.  Better  not, 
I  think." 

A  flaming  match  lit  up  his  face  for  an  in- 
stant, but  in  that  moment's  view  Constance 
saw  the  Indian's  eyes  gleam  with  a  look  she 
could  not  understand,  and  his  lips  moved 
excitedly.  The  girl's  heart  sank.  Was  Sam 
mad  ?  Had  his  fears  for  her,  or  some  dismal 
tragedy  at  home,  made  the  faithful  fellow 
distraught?  She  would  go  to  him;  relieve 
his  fears,  or  hear  his  dread  tale !  Abandon- 
ing caution,  she  took  a  careless  step  for- 
ward. At  the  same  time,  directed  by  the 
sound  of  her  movement,  Sam  sprang  toward 
her.  As  he  did  so,  a  voice  whose  first  drowsy 
tones  quickly  turned  into  sharp  accent  of  sus- 


The  Capture  of  Constance    139 

picion,  called  out,  ''  Hello !  hello !  What's 
up,  Sam  ?  " 

Constance  recognized  the  voice  of  one  of 
Rawlins'  men,  and,  half  fainting  with  dis- 
may, turned  to  fly.  It  was  too  late,  for  on 
the  heels  of  the  Indian  came  the  bandit.  Sam 
caught  Constance  by  the  arm,  and  called  out, 
*'  Sam  catch  man.    He  see  who?  '* 

As  he  spoke  he  dragged  Lennox's  soft  hat, 
which  Constance  w^ore,  far  over  her  eyes, 
then  said  calmly,  "  Sam  catch  one  travel 
man.     Him  Lennox,  I  think." 


CHAPTER  XI 


INDIAN    SAM^S    STRATEGY 


Before  Constance  left  the  Meadow,  on 
the  night  of  her  ride  to  Fort  Birkett,  she  told 
her  aunt  the  story  of  treachery  she  had 
learned  by  her  visit  to  the  camp  of  the  ban- 
dits. Miss  Hammatt  listened  in  dismay 
turning  to  rage,  but  she  did  not  attempt  to 
dissuade  Constance  from  her  purpose  of  try- 
ing to  restore  to  the  travelers  the  arms  Raw- 
lins stole.  She  saw  that  the  girl  was  deter- 
mined to  go,  and  deplored  that  she  could  not 
go  herself,  for  she  realized  better,  perhaps, 
than  did  her  niece,  how  urgent  was  the  un- 
dertaking. 

"  God  grant,"  she  exclaimed,  "  that  you 

safely  carry  to  those  unfortunate  men  the 

means  by  which  they  can  defend  themselves 

until  father  returns !    Then  we  will  organize 

140 


Indian  Sams  Strategy     141 

a  party  that  will  make  these  mountains  safe 
for  future  travelers !  " 

Constance  noted  the  "  we  "  in  that  threat, 
and  regretted  that  the  necessity  of  safeguard- 
ing their  home  kept  her  aunt  from  at  once 
joining  in  her  dangerous  enterprise.  They 
did  not  speak  of  the  danger,  however,  but 
thoughtfully  discussed  every  detail  of  the 
venture  they  could  foresee,  until,  far  into 
the  night,  they  heard  Sam's  signal.  The  In- 
dian brought  with  him  trophies  of  his  stealth 
and  cunning,  the  rifles  of  Lennox  and  Bir- 
kett,  recovered  from  Rawlins'  loot.  The 
women  planned  with  him  for  his  next  night's 
meeting  with  Constance,  and  she,  after  re- 
ceiving final  words  of  advice  and  caution, 
rode  away  to  the  relief  of  Fort  Birkett. 

The  next  morning  Sam  seemed  to  have 
nothing  on  his  mind  but  the  methodical  daily 
care  of  the  ranch.  With  much  vigor  of  in- 
vective he  lectured  upon  the  sins  of  laziness, 
which  he  observed  and  lamented  in  his  Dig- 
ger Indian  subordinates.    Thus  engaged,  he 


142  Fort  Birkett 

paused  to  grunt  a  careless  salute  to  Raw- 
lins' men  as  they  rode  into  the  house 
grounds ;  but  the  party  halted,  and,  at  a  com- 
mand from  Rawlins,  Sam  approached  the 
bandit,  repeating  "  How !  " 

"  Sam,"  said  RawHns  sharply,  "  someone 
stole  rifles  from  our  camp  last  night." 

*'  Plenty  bad  man  in  mountain.  I  think," 
Sam  commented. 

*'  Plenty  bad  Indian,"  Rawlins  rejoined. 

"  Yep,"  grunted  Sam.  '' Bad  Digger.  All 
Digger  Indian  bad.  Some  white  man,  him 
bad,  too.     I  think." 

This  speech  was  greeted  by  a  laugh  in 
which  Rawlins  did  not  join.  He  glared  at 
Sam  for  a  time,  but  the  Indian  met  the  look 
with  calm  eyes.  Rawlins  called  his  men 
aside,  and,  after  a  whispered  consultation, 
returned  to  Sam  and  said  confidentially : 

"  Wounded  stranger  all  alone.  You  have 
Digger  boy  look  after  him?  " 

Sam  nodded. 

"  We  go  catch  plenty  of  gold.     Travel 


Indian  Sam's  Strategy     143 

man  find  heap  dust.  We  catch  him. 
Sabe?" 

Again  Sam  nodded. 

''  Maybe  travel  man  catch  rifles  we  lost. 
Then  we  need  help.    You  like  come  help?  " 

''  What  I  get?  "  Sam  asked  stolidly;  and 
Rawlins  turned  to  wink  to  his  compan- 
ions. 

"  Sam  catch  hatful  gold.    All  for  Sam." 

There  was  a  moment's  gleam  in  Sam's 
eyes,  which  to  Rawlins  was  a  proof  of  the 
Indian's  cupidity.  Sam  reflected;  this  pro- 
posed trip  with  the  bandits  did  not  favor 
his  plan  to  meet  Constance;  but  they  were 
five,  and  armed;  and  he  divined  that  their 
suspicions  would  be  aroused  if  he  refused  to 
accompany  them  after  such  an  offer  of  re- 
ward. He  felt,  too  that  they  wanted  him 
with  them  as  much  to  prevent  his  giving 
aid  to  the  travelers,  as  to  secure  his  help  for 
themselves.  He  concluded  that  if  he  went 
with  them  he  could  devise  a  scheme  to  carry 
out  his  plan  to  meet  Constance,  and  then  he 


144  Fort  Birkett 

looked  at  Rawlins  shrewdly  and  asked, 
"Sam  get  hatful  yellow  dust,  sure?" 

"  Sure!  "  the  bandit  replied. 

"Well,  Sam,  he  go.  I  think."  Then  he 
added,  grinning,  "  I  tell  Miss  Hammatt,  and 
Miss  Connie,  Sam  go  with  you  to  get  some 
deer,  some  bear,  for  camp." 

"  Yes,  tell  'em  anything,"  Rawlins  as- 
sented with  a  laugh.  "  I  say,  Sam,"  he 
added  at  a  sudden  thought,  as  the  Indian 
turned  toward  the  house,  "  the  ladies  both 
well?    Both  home?" 

"What  for!"  the  Indian  exclaimed. 
"  Where  they  go  six  o'clock  morning?  You 
big  fool !  "  and  he  walked  away. 

"  I  believe  he's  telling  the  truth,"  Raw- 
lins said  to  his  fellow^s.  "  I  reckon  the  Dig- 
gers stole  the  rifles.  They  can  sell  them  for 
rum  the  next  time  they  get  to  a  settlement. 
I  knew  we'd  get  Sam  with  a  promise  of  the 
dust." 

"  It  won't  do  any  harm  to  keep  an  eye  on 
him,"  one  said. 


Indian  Sam's  Strategy     145 

*'  Certainly,"  Rawlins  responded.  "  We'll 
keep  him  in  sight  all  the  time." 

This  thought  of  caution  would  have  been 
emphasized  had  the  bandits  known  that  Sam 
spoke  to  Miss  Hammatt  in  his  native  lan- 
guage, when  she  came  from  the  house  to 
meet  him,  had  they  seen  the  expression  of 
her  determined  face  as  she  listened  to  the  In- 
dian's hurried  guttural  speech.  A  little  later, 
the  horsemen,  joined  by  Sam  on  his  stout  lit- 
tle broncho,  started  on  a  smart  jog  down  the 
trail  toward  the  basin.  Once  or  twice  Raw- 
lins endeavored  to  maneuver  the  Indian  to 
the  front,  but  without  success.  He  noticed, 
too,  that  Sam  never  slung  his  rifle,  but  al- 
ways carried  it  in  his  right  hand. 

"  It's  only  a  Piute's  natural  caution," 
Rawlins  thought. 

Sam  showed  no  great  interest  in  the  affair 
of  the  first  attack  on  the  fort,  for  he  under- 
stood, better  than  the  others,  the  strength  of 
shelter  afforded  by  the  roof.  But  one  thing 
he  discovered  was  not  so  reassuring;  when 


146  Fort  Birkett 

three  rifles  were  seen  projecting  from  the 
fort,  and  three  shots  were  fired,  Sam,  alone, 
detected  that  all  were  fired  from  Constance's 
rifle.  The  bandits  agreed  that  Birkett,  Pel- 
ham,  and  Lennox  had  each  fired.  Again, 
when  Lennox  sprang  into  the  open,  and  de- 
livered the  shot  that  shattered  the  right  hand 
of  a  bandit  named  Dunning,  the  Indian  saw, 
or  his  wonderful  sense  of  hearing  told  him, 
that  the  young  man  had  used  Constance's 
rifle.  This  informed  him  that  Constance 
had  reached  the  basin  in  safety,  but  that  hers 
was  the  only  effective  weapon  in  the  fort. 
The  fact  puzzled  him,  but  his  stolid  face  be- 
trayed no  concern;  so,  when  the  bandits 
planned  their  night  watch  against  any  at- 
tempt the  travelers  might  make  to  escape, 
Sam  had  so  far  gained  the  confidence  of 
Rawlins  that  he  was  assigned  to  the  post  he 
asked  for.  This  w^as  the  one  farthest  west 
on  the  trail,  and  it  stationed  him  not  far 
from  the  point  where  he  had  agreed  to  meet 
Constance. 


Indian  Sam's  Strategy     147 

One  sentry  was  posted  on  the  edge  of  the 
cHff  overlooking  the  fort,  one  on  the  steep 
north  ridge,  and  two  watched  the  trail  on 
the  south,  where  an  attempt  to  leave  the 
gorge  would  most  likely  be  made.  Rawlins 
rode  from  post  to  post,  and,  as  he  did  so,  saw 
that  the  weakness  of  his  siege  lay  in  his  lack 
of  sentries.  He  felt  no  apprehension  that  the 
fort's  inmates  would  make  an  immediate  at- 
tempt to  escape;  but  he  feared  that  after  a 
few  days  of  siege,  with  food  and  ammunition 
running  low,  such  attempt  would  surely  be 
made,  desperate  as  it  would  be  for  "  tender- 
feet,"  with  no  mountain  craft.  He  disliked 
to  send  for  help,  for  that  would  mean  a 
further  division  of  the  gold ;  but  he  finally  re- 
alized that,  to  make  sure  of  the  riches  at 
stake,  a  force  was  required  large  enough  to 
prevent  the  escape  of  even  one  of  the  be- 
sieged. If  but  one  escaped  he  could  collect 
a  posse  on  the  Nevada  side,  and  return  within 
a  week — far  too  short  a  time  for  him  and  his 
fellows  to  rob  the  basin  of  its  gold,  and 


148  Fort  Birkett 

make  off  with  it.  Rawlins  reached  his  de- 
cision when  he  was  at  the  easternmost  post, 
and  directed  Dunning,  the  man  on  guard 
there,  to  take  a  message  for  assistance ;  stop- 
ping on  his  way  to  order  Sam  to  guard  the 
post  the  messenger  left  vacant. 

As  Rawlins  and  Dunning  left  the  post 
Constance  glided  across  the  unguarded  trail 
on  her  way  to  meet  Sam. 

The  messenger,  after  going  to  the  camp 
to  make  some  preparation  for  his  journey, 
rode  up  the  trail,  arriving  at  Sam's  post  a 
moment  after  the  Indian  had  entered  the 
forest  to  meet  Constance.  A  few  seconds 
later  Sam  would  have  been  safely  out  of 
sight,  but  hearing  Dunning  dismount,  and 
follow  him,  he  endeavored  to  signal  Con- 
stance, as  we  have  seen. 

"  Lennox,  eh  ?  The  one  who  plugged 
me !  "  Dunning  exclaimed,  when  Sam  so 
announced  his  captive.  "  Sam,  you'll  get 
an  extra  hatful  of  gold  from  me  for  taking 
that  fellow  into  camp." 


Indian  Sams  Strategy     149 

There  was  a  moment  when  the  Indian's 
cocked  rifle  was  within  an  inch  of  Dunning's 
back.  He  wanted  to  shoot  the  fellow  and 
rush  Constance  to  his  horse;  but  he  knew 
that  the  sound  of  a  shot  would  bring  other 
bandits  upon  them,  before  he  could  reach 
either  his  or  Dunning's  animal,  for  both 
horses  had  been  left  on  the  trail,  so  the  rifle 
was  reluctantly  lowered.  Muttering  that  he 
would  make  good  use  of  the  two  hatfuls  of 
gold,  he  trudged  along,  making  hard  work  of 
the  rough  walk  back  to  the  trail.  He  grum- 
bled at  his  own  awkward  slips,  until  the  ban- 
dit jeered  him.  "  Look  out,  there,  Sam,"  he 
cried.  "  You  too  old.  You  no  better  woods- 
man than  tenderfoot.  Lennox  make  better 
work  than  Sam." 

"  Yep,  Sam  too  old,"  the  Indian  assented; 
and,  under  pretense  of  more  grumbling, 
managed  to  tell  Constance  to  drop  her  rifle 
and  cartridge  belt,  which,  dark  as  it  was,  he 
concealed  as  he  seemed  again  to  stumble. 
In  the  faint  starlight  which  reached  them  in 


150  Fort   Birkett 

the  open  trail,  Dunning  remarked  that  the 
captive  was  unarmed. 

"  I  wonder,"  he  said,  ''  if  the  smarty 
dropped  his  gun  in  the  woods.  If  he  did 
we'd  better  find  it." 

He  had  retraced  but  a  few  steps,  when 
Constance  and  Sam  both  started  at  a  faint 
sound  on  the  trail,  in  the  direction  of  the 
Meadow.  For  a  moment  they  stood  hke 
forest  animals  at  the  first  sense  of  alarm: 
motionless,  alert. 

Constance,  with  a  touch  of  caution  on  the 
Indian's  arm,  whispered,  "  It  may  be  Mr. 
Pelham !  He  must  get  to  the  fort  with  car- 
tridges.    Warn  him ! " 

Sam  nodded,  and  called  aloud  to  Dunning, 
"  I  go  see  gun.  You  watch  man,"  and 
slipped  away  as  Dunning  returned  to  the  side 
of  Constance. 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE   ADVENTURES    OF    MR.    PELHAM 

Mr.  Pelham's  journey,  from  the  fort  to 
Hammatt's  Meadow,  was  through  a  country 
no  horse  would  have  traveled,  and  which 
man,  probably,  had  never  traversed  before. 
He  had  to  overcome  no  single  great  diffi- 
culty ;  but,  such  as  they  were,  the  obstacles  to 
progress  were  almost  continuous,  after  the 
first  mile  of  fairly  good  ground  near  the  head 
of  the  gorge.  Perhaps  the  intrepid  gentle- 
man might  have  been  dismayed  had  he 
known  that  where  he  plodded  painfully,  but 
never  flagged,  was  a  region  of  "  bad  lands,*' 
which  mountaineers,  on  horse  or  on  foot, 
never  cross,  though  to  avoid  a  few  miles  of  it 
means  an  extra  day's  march.  Yet  this  city- 
bred  man  plunged  on,  not  allowing  his  mind 
151 


152  Fort  Birkett 

to  dwell  on  the  nature  of  his  task;  except 
that  once,  smiling  shrewdly,  he  said  aloud : 
*'  For  twenty  years  I've  endured  the  sus- 
picion of  mild  insanity  because,  in  all 
weather,  I've  w^alked  the  four  miles  to  my 
office,  and  the  four  miles  back.  There  have 
been  storms  wherein  I  admitted  that  it  was  a 
species  of  pig-headedness  which  kept  me  true 
to  that  daily  walk;  but  now  I  know  it  was 
a  provision  of  Providence — I  was  fitting  my- 
self to  perform  this  day's  work." 

He  had  gone  but  a  few  miles  when  his 
clothing  was  in  tatters,  his  hands  bleeding 
and  swollen,  and  at  last  he  knew  that  some 
of  the  rock-cuts  through  his  shoes  had  made 
his  feet  bleed ;  but  he  would  not  stop  to  ex- 
amine. He  ate  his  meager  food  at  times 
when  some  brief  stretch  of  less  evil  going 
did  not  require  the  use  of  hands,  as  well  as 
feet ;  and  then  brightened  at  the  thought  that, 
at  the  journey's  end,  a  fine-looking  w^oman, 
a  bit  severe,  perhaps,  would  greet  him — 
pleasantly,  maybe! 


Adventures  of  Mr.  Pelham  153 

On  he  struggled.  Night  came;  but  ever 
to  the  west,  guided  by  his  phosphorescent 
compass,  he  stubbornly  battled,  scarcely  con- 
scious of  his  wounds ;  concerned  only  lest,  in 
the  dark,  some  severe  stumble  would  wholly 
disable  him. 

Mr.  Pelham  had  no  means  of  measuring 
distance  or  speed ;  and,  supposing  the  best  he 
could  hope  for  was  to  reach  his  destination 
by  midnight,  he  rejoiced,  some  hours  earlier, 
to  feel  the  rough  earth  rapidly  subside  into 
the  park-like  forest  land  fringing  the 
Meadow.  Then,  after  a  gradual  descent,  he 
found  himself  at  the  Meadow  itself,  with  the 
lights  of  the  Hammatt  home  welcoming  him. 
As  he  made  this  cheerful  discovery  his  legs 
gave  abrupt  notice  of  intention  to  quit  work. 
For  some  time  a  numbness  had  suggested 
that  his  own  had  been  replaced  by  wooden 
legs,  carrying  him  forward  mechanically, 
without  the  usual  nerve  communication  be- 
tween them  and  his  brain.  With  a  heroic 
purpose  to  complete  his  journey  at  any  cost, 


154  Foi't  Birkett 

he  fairly  ran  the  hundred  yards  to  the  front 
door — and  there  collapsed ! 

A  moment  later  a  steady  voice  inquired 
from  within,  "  Who  is  there?  " 

"  Mr.  Pelham,"  the  lawyer  answered;  and, 
determined  to  meet  Miss  Hammatt  erect  and 
like  a  man,  though  he  died  for  his  pride,  he 
dragged  himself  to  his  feet. 

The  door  opened,  and  the  lady  appeared, 
rifle  in  hand,  but  looking,  as  Mr.  Pelham 
had  hoped,  not  at  all  severe. 

After  a  glance  at  her  visitor,  Miss  Ham- 
matt  put  one  arm  around  him,  and  half 
carried  him  to  a  chair  in  the  study.  Then 
she  fastened  the  door,  laid  her  rifle  on  the 
table,  surveyed  the  lawyer  carefully,  and  at 
last  said : 

"  Well !  " 

"  I  admit,  madam,  that  I  was  in  some  per- 
plexity as  to  my  knees,"  Mr.  Pelham  ex- 
plained, smiling,  ''  but  I  am  confident  of  soon 
feeling  quite  restored  if  you  w411  kindly  give 
me" 


Adventures  of  Mr.  Pelham  155 

"  A  hot  supper,  of  course !  "  she  inter- 
rupted. "  I  will.  But  while  I  prepare  it, 
you  talk.  Tell  me  everything.  First,  Con- 
stance.    Is  she  all  right  ?  " 

Resting  comfortably,  and  revived  by  his 
cheerful  surroundings,  Mr.  Pelham  related 
all  of  their  adventures;  again  not  sparing 
himself  as  to  the  cause  of  the  fort's  lack  of 
ammunition.  Miss  Hammatt  did  not  inter- 
rupt, nor  pause  in  her  preparations  for  his 
comfort;  but,  when  he  finished,  she  said  in 
a  manner  which  would  have  made  protest 
absurd,  ''  Take  that  kettle  of  hot  water  to  my 
father's  room.  Bathe,  in  as  hot  water  as  you 
can  endure;  put  on  some  of  my  father's 
clothes ;  then  I'll  have  supper  ready." 

With  no  word  Mr.  Pelham  started  up- 
stairs, steaming  kettle  in  hand. 

"  As  hot  as  you  can  bear,  remember ! " 
Miss  Hammatt  called  after  him.  "  You 
have  a  ride  to  make  before  daylight,  and  the 
hot  water  will  make  you  fit  for  it — if  any- 
thing will." 


156  Fort  Birkett 

A  tone  of  doubt  in  the  last  words  made  the 
lawyer  reply,  as  he  found  the  doctor's  room, 
"  Depend  upon  me,  madam.  I  shall  parboil 
myself." 

He  reappeared,  a  droll  figure:  dad  in  a 
corduroy  suit  of  the  doctor's;  coat  sleeves 
overhanging  his  hands,  like  a  mandarin's; 
trouser  legs  rolled  in  bulky  coils  about 
ankles.  But  spirits,  as  well  as  muscles,  were 
improved  by  the  parboiling  process,  and  he 
was  now  as  suavely  attentive  to  Miss  Ham- 
matt  as  if  she  were  his  guest,  in  his  own 
house. 

"  This  is  a  horrible  state  of  affairs,"  the 
lady  said,  when  they  were  seated  at  supper. 

"  I  find  it  wholly  charming,"  the  lawyer 
commented. 

She  ignored  the  remark,  continuing,  "  I 
wish  I  could  return  with  you ;  but  I  must  stay 
here  to  guard  the  house — which  would  be 
looted  and  burned  if  left  unprotected — and 
to  help  my  father  gather  a  posse  when  he 
returns." 


Adventures  of  Mr.  Pelham  157 

Mr.  Pelham  bowed  approval,  and  she  re- 
sumed : 

''  You  must  reach  the  fort  before  day- 
light. You  can  do  that  by  riding  my  horse 
to  a  point  as  near  the  head  of  the  gorge  as  is 
safe.  Leave  the  horse  there  to  find  his  way 
back,  and  you  reach  the  fort  as  you  left  it, 
by  the  north  side.  After  what  you  have 
already  done  that  will  be  a  hard  ride.  Can 
you  do  it?  " 

''  My  dear  Miss  Hammatt,"  the  lawyer 
responded, ''  I  claim  no  skill,  for  I  have  none, 
as  a  horseman,  but  this  I  assure  you,  I  shall 
stay  on  the  back  of  that  horse — somehow !  " 

**  I  believe  you,"  she  exclaimed,  regarding 
him  with  a  look  that  made  him  more  self- 
conscious  than  usual.  Then  she  added, 
''  Well,  you  have  grit !  " 

"  Have  I  ?  I  think  I  never  had  that  said  to 
me  before." 

"  Perhaps  no  one  ever  saw  you,  with 
bruised  hands  and  feet,  cheerfully  undertake 
a  dangerous  night  ride." 


158  Fort  Birkett 

She  said  this  impulsively,  and  then  blushed 
a  little;  then  a  little  more  as  she  saw  his  pale 
face  flush. 

''  It  may  be,"  he  said,  "  that  I  am  prov- 
ing the  truth  of  the  tradition,  that  our 
soldiers — I  refer  to  the  New  York  City 
troops  in  the  War  of  the  RebeUion — outdid 
their  country  cousins  when  emergencies  re- 
quired forced  marches.  Perhaps  city-bred 
men  acquire  a  nerve  force  which  stands  in 
lieu  of  muscles  upon  sudden  demand." 

She  smiled,  perhaps  at  his  precise  lan- 
guage, and  then  she  said  briskly,  "  My  horse 
is  ready,  and  the  cartridges  in  the  saddle  bag. 
I  attended  to  that  myself.  It  would  be  un- 
safe to  let  our  boys — the  ranch  hands — ^know 
what  is  going  on.  You  must  start  soon,  or 
you  will  be  too  sore  and  stiff  to  start  at  all. 
I  cannot  spare  you  a  rifle,  but  here  is  a  re- 
volver you  may  take." 

"  No,"  he  said,  turning  from  the  formida- 
ble weapon  she  pointed  to.  "I  never  had  a 
deadly  weapon  in  my  hand,  and  the  posses- 


Adventures  of  Mr.  Pelham  159 

sion  of  one  would  be  dangerous  only  to  me. 
A  stick  would  serve  me  better.  I  am  ready 
to  start." 

She  brought  the  horse  to  the  front  of  the 
house,  helped  Mr.  Pelham  to  mount,  gave 
him  one  of  the  stout  sticks  her  father  carried 
about  the  Meadow,  and  then  said  quietly,  "  I 
wish  you  success,  sir." 

"  Thank  you,  madam.  I  hope  fortune 
may  grant  me  opportunity  to  resume  an  ac- 
quaintance which  has  been  most  " 

*'  You  must  be  off,  sir,"  she  interrupted. 

He  bowed,  turned  the  horse's  head  down 
the  Meadow  road,  and  clattered  away :  keep- 
ing his  seat,  not  by  skill,  but,  as  he  had 
promised,  "  somehow  "  ! 

"  I  do  not  believe  there's  a  man  in  these 
mountains  who  could  make  the  trip  he  did 
to-day,"  mused  Miss  Hammatt,  as  she 
turned  toward  the  lonely  house.  "  I  hope 
Sequoia  does  not  bolt  with  him." 

"  Sequoia,"  her  horse,  named  for  the  giant 
redwoods  because  he  was  the  tallest  horse  on 


i6o  Fort  Birkett 

the  ranch,  did  not  bolt  with  Mr.  Pelham; 
indeed,  seemed  to  have  a  horsely  sense  of  his 
duty  as  he  loped  steadily  down  the  trail. 
When  the  rider  reached  a  point,  as  nearly  as 
he  could  judge,  a  mile  above  the  gorge,  and 
was  proceeding  with  greater  caution,  he  was 
startled  to  hear  his  name  whispered,  close  to 
his  side. 

"  Mr.  Pelham.  Friend  speak,"  said  the 
voice.  He  checked  Sequoia,  and  faintly  dis- 
cerned the  figure  of  a  man. 

"  No  friend !  "  he  cried,  raising  his  stick. 
"  I've  no  friend  here.  Come  on !  Come  on, 
you  villain !  " 

*'  Sam,  Indian  boy.  I  catch  word  from 
Miss  Connie.     I  think." 

"  If  you  are  a  friend,  put  down  that  rifle." 

"  All  right.  You  put  down  him  club.  No 
talk  loud.     Get  off  horse." 

Reassured,  as  he  recalled  that  Constance 
was  to  meet  the  Indian  that  night,  Mr.  Pel- 
ham dismounted,  and  listened  in  dismay  to 
Sam's  story  of  the  mischance  which  had  re- 


Adventures  of  Mr.  Pelham  i6i 

suited  in  the  capture  of  Constance.  Sam 
gave  no  assurance  that  the  bandits  would  re- 
lease the  girl,  when  her  identity  was  dis- 
closed; nor  was  he  certain  of  effecting  her 
escape  without  help.  But  he  would  protect 
her  from  harm,  with  his  life. 

Having  carefully  noted  all  that  Sam  had  to 
tell,  Mr.  Pelham  began  to  take  his  precious 
store  of  cartridges  from  the  saddle  bags,  but 
the  Indian  stopped  him. 

"  Ride  horse  to  north  side  gorge,"  Sam 
whispered.  ''  One  sentinel  man  there. 
Him  Parker.  He  see  you  on  foot,  shoot. 
See  you  on  horse,  think  you  Rawlins.  Him 
say,  '  How  with  you  ?  ' ;  you  say  *  Ton  of 
gold.'  Maybe  he  no  see  you.  Good.  If 
see  you,  you  say  '  Ton  of  gold.'  Let  you 
ride  close.     You  hit  him  club.     I  think." 

Sam  gave  minute  directions  to  the  lawyer 
for  his  change  of  route,  and  then  silently  dis- 
appeared down  the  trail  to  where  he  had  left 
Constance. 

Mr.  Pelham  crossed  north,  far  enough 


1 62  Fort  Birkett 

above  the  head  of  the  gorge  to  avoid  the  sen- 
tinel there,  then  he  went  east  along  the  north 
edge  of  the  gorge.  He  was  congratulating 
himself  that  he  had  reached,  unobserved,  a 
point  where  he  could  safely  descend  to  the 
fort,  when  he  heard  the  challenge,  "  How 
with  you?"  Even  as  the  sentinel's  voice 
came  to  him  he  was  encouraged  by  its  tone, 
for  it  was  that  of  a  drowsy,  unalert  man. 
Pulling  the  doctor's  broad  brimmed  hat 
over  his  eyes,  and  not  checking  Sequoia, 
Mr.  Pelham  answered  gruffly,  "  Ton  of 
gold." 

At  this  reply  the  bandit  relaxed  the  small 
vigilance  he  had  shown ;  and  the  lawyer  drew 
nearer,  his  heart  fast  beating,  but  nerves 
steady.  He  was  within  a  yard  or  two  of 
striking  distance  when  the  sentinel  started, 
and  cried,  as  he  swung  up  his  rifle,  "  Who 
the  devil " 

That  was  all  he  spoke.  Sequoia,  startled 
by  a  sharp  dig  in  the  sides,  bounded  forward, 
and  Mr.   Pelham  brought  his  heavy  stick 


Adventures  of  Mr.  Pelham  163 

down  on  the  head  of  the  bandit,  who  rolled 
from  his  horse.  Mr.  Pelham  was  unseated 
by  the  shock  of  the  collision,  but  was  nimbly 
on  his  feet,  and  in  possession  of  the  rifle. 

"  Now,  you  rascal,"  he  shouted  to  the  half- 
stunned  bandit,  "  to  your  feet !  " 

Then,  recalling  the  command  which  had 
once  so  enraged  him,  he  roared,  ''  I  have  the 
drop  on  you !  "  and  added,  "  Throw  up  your 
hands!" 

Parker  slowly  rose,  hands  up;  and  as  the 
fast  diffusing  morning  light  revealed  the 
lawyer  with  the  rifle  pointed,  he  muttered, 
**  Don't  shoot!     I  give  up." 

As  he  spoke  the  rifle  was  discharged,  and 
a  bullet  sang  by  his  ear. 

"  God  almighty  I  "  he  shouted.  "  Would 
you  shoot  an  unarmed  man !  " 

The  shot  was  accidental,  for  the  possession 
of  the  rifle  had  shaken  Mr.  Pelham's  nerve 
more  than  had  the  encounter.  But  his  wit 
was  undisturbed. 

"  Villain !  "  he  roared,  "  I  shall  not  shoot 


164  Fort  Birkett 

you  unless  you  resist,  or  disobey.  That 
shot,  fellow,  was  to  show  that  I  am  an  expert 
with  firearms.  I  meant  to  clip  a  lock  of  your 
hair.     Did  I?" 

"  I  don't  know,  boss,"  Parker  replied,  not 
daring  to  lower  his  hands.  "  But  I  reckon 
you  did." 

"  Very  well,  rascal,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Pel- 
ham.  "  Now,  my  saddle  bags  on  your 
shoulder.  Ahead  of  me  into  the  gorge !  Be- 
ware, fellow !  If  you  so  much  as  turn  your 
head — a  bullet  in  your  brain !  That  will  be 
my  answer.     Lively,  now !  " 

Astonished  at  the  language  of  the  little 
gentleman,  and  in  deadly  fear  of  a  second 
shot,  Parker  shouldered  the  bags,  and  made 
his  way  down  the  cliff  as  best  he  could,  Mr. 
Pelham  behind  him,  praying  that  the  gun 
might  not  go  off  again,  but  fearful  that  it 
would.  Thus  they  were  discovered  by  Birkett 
and  Lennox,  struck  dumb  at  the  sight  of  the 
bandit  sullenly  marching  up  to  the  fort,  with 
his  priceless  burden,  their  friend  following. 


Adventures  of  Mr.  Pelham  165 

his    well-proved    stick    in    one    hand,    the 
troublesome  gun  in  the  other. 

** Gentlemen!  "  shouted  Mr.  Pelham  gayly, 
"  I  greet  you.  I  return  in  good  case,  with 
one  prisoner  of  war,  and  two  hundred  car- 
tridges." 


CHAPTER  XIII 

A    FAIR    HOSTAGE 

The  sound  of  the  shot  accidentally  fired 
by  Mr.  Pelham  was  heard  by  Rawlins,  and 
by  two  of  his  men,  who,  at  the  first  signs  of 
daylight,  left  their  posts,  and  returned  to 
the  camp  on  the  bluff  over  the  fort.  Their 
alarmed  surmises  were  interrupted  by  the 
appearance  of  Dunning  and  Sam  with  a 
prisoner,  the  supposed  Lennox. 

"Hello!"  shouted  Rawlins.  "Did  any 
of  you  fire  that  shot?  " 

"  No,"  replied  Dunning.  "  This  fellow 
tried  to  escape  by  the  south,  and  Sam  cap- 
tured him." 

"That's  the  game,  then,"  Rawlins  de- 
clared. "  The  others  are  trying  the  north 
side,  and  Parker  fired  to  drive  them  back. 
I66 


A  Fair  Hostage  167 

That's  it !  Get  over  there,  you  Calkins  and 
Ferris,  and  see  if  Parker  needs  help.  Hurry 
up!" 

The  bandits  he  addressed  mounted  their 
worn  horses,  and  made  for  the  north  of  the 
gorge.  The  leader  then  ordered  Dunning  to 
carry  the  message  for  re-enforcements ;  curs- 
ing him  for  not  having  gone  about  that  busi- 
ness, instead  of  returning  to  camp  v^ith  the 
prisoner. 

"  I  thought  the  Piute  wasn't  any  too  good 
to  be  watched,"  the  man  retorted  sullenly. 

"  If  he  was  good  enough  to  capture  a  man 
— who  had  slipped  past  you ! — ^he  was  good 
enough  to  bring  him  in  without  your  help. 
Here  you  are,  not  fit  to  handle  a  rifle,  Parker 
not  accounted  for  yet,  one  man  needed  to 
guard  the  prisoner,  and  that  leaves  just  two 
of  us  to  take  care  of  this  job;  perhaps  with  a 
chase  on  our  hands.  I  want  help,  not  back 
talk!" 

Dunning,  in  bad  temper,  rode  off  to  the 
trail.     Rawlins  went  to  the  edge  of  the  cliff 


1 68  Fort  Birkett 

and  peered  down  into  the  basin.  It  was 
darker  there  than  on  the  heights,  and  only  by 
the  fluttering  flame  of  the  newly  fed  camp- 
fire  could  he  discern  the  fort.  ''  Someone's 
there,  or  has  been  lately.  Looks  like  getting 
breakfast,  too,"  he  said.  '*  Who  alarmed 
Parker,  then?" 

He  turned  to  where  Sam  kept  his  prisoner 
as  much  as  possible  in  deeper  shadow,  and 
exclaimed,  ''  Well,  young  fellow,  who  did 
you  leave  in  the  fort?  " 

"  Him  no  talk.  Heap  scared.  I  think," 
Sam  said. 

"  Scared,  eh  ?  He'll  have  something  to 
be  scared  about  when  we  make  up  our  mind 
what  to  do  with  him  for  shooting  off  Dun- 
ning's  trigger  finger.  Hello !  What  the 
hell  is  this !  " 

*'  This,"  was  Calkins  and  Ferris,  returning 
with  two  led  horses.  The  men  explained 
that  they  had  been  to  Parker's  post,  where 
they  found  his  and  a  strange  horse,  riderless 
and  astray.     There  was  nothing  about  the 


A  Fair  Hostage  169 

animals,  nor  the  deserted  post,  to  account 
for  the  shot,  or  the  sentinel's  disappear- 
ance. 

Rawlins,  who  had  been  staring  at  the 
second  animal,  suddenly  exclaimed,  "  Look 
here,  boys,  that's  Miss  Hammatt's  horse! 
I've  seen  her  ride  it,  many  a  time." 

"  The  doctor's  daughter !  "  cried  Ferris. 

"  What  do  you  make  of  it,  then?  "  Calkins 
asked.  ''  You  don't  reckon  the  woman  shot 
Parker  and  flew  away  with  him.  Where  is 
she?  Where  is  Parker?  Mighty  queer 
work,  seems  to  me !  " 

Rawlins  was  silent ;  he  shared  the  evident 
nervousness  of  his  companion.  Like  most 
mountain  folk,  the  bandits  were  supersti- 
tious, and  a  less  bewildering  aspect  than  this 
would  have  shaken  their  nerves. 

"  Well,  here's  Sam,"  Rawlins  said  at  last. 
*'  He  knows  the  horse.     Eh,  Sam  ?  " 

"  Him  Sequoia.  Miss  Hammatt  ride  him. 
She  magic  shot.  Kill  him  deer  one  thousand 
yard.     I  think." 


170  Fort  Birkett 

The  Indian  cunningly  took  full  advantage 
of  the  situation. 

"If  she  killed  Parker  at  a  thousand  yards 
what  has  she  done  with  his  body?"  asked 
Rawlins,  laughing  nervously. 

Ferris,  cautiously  inspecting  the  basin, 
now  called  out : ''  Look  here !  What  do  you 
call  this?" 

The  others  looked  where  he  pointed.  As 
they  did  so,  the  low  sun,  ranging  southward, 
found  the  mouth  of  the  gorge,  and  shot  a 
brilliant  shaft  of  light  up  to  the  very  basin, 
revealing  Parker,  bearing  a  burden  on  his 
shoulder,  followed  by  a  slightly  built 
figure. 

"It's  Miss  Hammatt!" 

"  In  the  doctor's  clothes !  " 

"  Parker  carrying  her  saddle  bags !  " 

The  bandits  gasped  these  announcements. 

*'  He's  a  dirty  traitor!  "  cried  Rawlins. 

"  No,"  Sam  said,  and  his  stolid  features 
showed  nothing  of  his  delight.  "  She  catch 
him  prisoner.     What  for  shoot  if  no  fight 


A  Fair  Hostage  171 

Parker  ?  Sure !  Miss  Hammatt  heap  brave. 
I  think." 

The  two  figures  disappeared  into  the  fort 
before  the  bandits  recovered  enough  from 
their  astonishment  to  shoot.  For  some 
minutes  none  of  them  could  put  thought  into 
speech.  They  v^ere  in  a  panic.  The  be- 
sieged already  re-enforced  to  the  extent  of 
their  loss,  while  the  besiegers  had  lost  one 
wounded,  and  one  captured! 

When  at  last  they  did  discuss  the  turn  of 
affair,  Rawlins  and  his  companions  anx- 
iously considered  how  soon  Dunning  could 
return  with  assistance.  He  had  gone  to  the 
hiding  place  of  Taggert,  Evanson's  fellow 
train  robber.  If  Taggert's  gang  had  not 
been  routed  by  the  man-hunters,  they  were 
camped  near  the  pass,  in  the  ravine  down 
which  the  wounded  Evanson  was  carried  to 
the  Meadow.  With  no  farther  than  that  to 
go.  Dunning  should  return  with  some  of 
Taggert's  men  by  sunset,  or  soon  after. 
This  was  the  point  which  now  gave  Rawlins 


172  Fort  Birkett 

most  concern.  He  had  found,  as  he  sup- 
posed, that  a  man  as  Httle  crafty  as  Lennox, 
could  sHp  between  his  scattered  sentries. 
Another  escape  might  not  be  followed  by  a 
lucky  capture.  Rawlins  felt  that  with  his 
advantage  of  position  he  could  repulse  a  day- 
light sortie;  but  he  needed  men  for  guard 
that  night,  and  must  have  them  to  rush  the 
fort  the  next  day. 

"  If  Taggert's  fellows  have  not  had  to  use 
up  their  horses,  we  can  look  for  them  before 
dusk,"  was  Rawlins'  conclusion. 

"But  if  they  don't  come?"  persisted 
Ferris. 

"  Then  we'll  send  word  down  to  Birkett 
that  another  attempt  to  escape  will  be  the 
death  warrant  of  the  fellow  we  have  cap- 
tured," Rawlins  replied  with  a  grin  of 
triumph. 

Calkins  and  Ferris  shouted  approval. 

"  Say,  Dick  Rawlins,  you're  a  good  enough 
leader  for  us.  Let's  have  a  fair  look  at  the 
dude,  anyway,"  said  one. 


A  Fair  Hostage  173 

At  these  words  Sam  began  to  dance  and 
utter  sounds  which  answered  with  him  for 
laughter.  When  the  bandits  began  their 
council,  the  Indian  turned  his  back  upon 
them  as  if  indifferent  to  what  they  might  say, 
but  they  spoke  no  word  he  did  not  hear. 
When  Calkins  suggested  that  they  have  a 
fair  look  at  the  supposed  Lennox,  Sam 
jumped  to  his  feet,  brushed  Constance's  hat 
from  her  head,  and  began  the  antics  which 
attracted  the  others'  attention. 

"  Hello,  Sam !  What's  up?  "  cried  Raw- 
lins. 

"  Him  no  Lennox !  Him  Miss  Connie !  " 
the  Indian  answered. 

The  astonished  bandits  stared  at  Con- 
stance, who  looked  embarrassed  as  to  her 
disguise,  but  pretty  enough,  and  not  much 
frightened. 

"  Well !  "  said  Rawlins  slowly,  after  a 
pause,  "  when  did  you  find  this  out?  " 

"  Now.  Miss  Connie  sleep.  Hat  fall  off. 
I  see." 


174  Fort  Birkett 

"  She  did  look  like  the  dude,  in  the  half- 
light,  with  the  hat  on,"  mused  Rawlins. 

"  Sam,  him  think  sure  dude,"  the  Indian 
commented  in  the  tone  of  deep  conviction. 
He  turned  his  wrinkled  old  face  to  the  sun, 
blinked  slowly,  and  added,  in  feigned  un- 
concern that  deceived  all  but  Constance, 
"  Now  we  give  her  Sequoia.  Send  home. 
Man  no  fight  squaw.     I  think." 

"  I  guess  that's  what  we'll  have  to  do," 
Rawhns  said.  "  I  suppose  she  was  trying 
to  get  into  the  gorge  on  the  south  side,  when 
she  ran  into  you  and  Dunning;  and  Miss 
Hammatt  went  to  the  north  side." 

The  Indian  took  Constance  by  the  hand, 
and  started  toward  Sequoia,  but  stopped,  as 
Rawlins  shouted,  "  Hold  on  there  a  min- 
ute!" 

Sam's  face  showed  no  emotion,  but  he 
dropped  Constance's  hand,  balanced  his  rifle 
lightly,  and  his  eyes  measured  the  distance  to 
Sequoia.  The  bandits  moved  to  a  point 
between  the  Indian  and  the  horses,  and  spoke 


A  Fair  Hostage  175 

together  in  whispers.  Then  Rawlins  turned 
and  said : 

''  Sorry,  Miss  Farwell,  but  you're  too  use- 
ful right  here,  to  be  turned  loose  now. 
We've  got  to  do  a  little  fine  work  to  keep 
those  people  in  the  basin,  until  we're  ready 
to  go  in  there  ourselves.  They  wouldn't  en- 
danger a  lady's  life,"  he  added  with  a  smirk, 
"  by  cutting  up  any  nonsense." 

Constance  seemed  about  to  speak,  but  a 
word  that  Sam  muttered  silenced  her. 

"  No  let  Miss  Connie  go?  "  inquired  Sam. 
His  face  bore  only  a  look  of  simple  surprise, 
except  that  his  half-closed  eyes  were  brightly 
comprehending.  "  What  for  she  no 
go?" 

"  That's  my  business,"  Rawlins  answered ; 
and  turned  to  speak  again  in  low  tones  with 
his  companions.  The  Indian  led  Constance 
back  to  where  he  had  spread  a  blanket  for 
her,  at  the  edge  of  the  cliff.  He  saw  in  her 
face  the  first  look  of  hopelessness,  and 
whispered,    "No    fear;    Sam,    him    watch. 


176  Fort  Birkett 

All  day,  all  night.     All  day,  all  night,  again. 
No  fear,  Miss  Connie." 

"  The  Indian  is  a  fool,  and  likely  did  not 
see  who  his  prisoner  was  until  it  got  bright 
daylight,"  Rawlins  was  saying. 

"  Of  course  not,"  said  Ferris.  "  If  he 
knew  who  she  was,  he  would  've  let  her  go." 

"  But  Dunning  was  with  him,"  suggested 
Calkins. 

"  What  could  Dunning  do  ?  He'd  only  a 
pistol — and  a  left  hand  to  use  it  with  ?  " 

''  It's  a  mighty  lucky  strike,"  declared 
Rawlins.  *'  Maybe  the  Indian  knew,  maybe 
he  didn't.  Anyway,  we'll  keep  an  eye  on 
him.  First,  we'll  send  word  into  the  basin ; 
then  breakfast,  and  take  turns  at  sleeping." 

With  a  stub  of  pencil  and  scrap  of  paper  he 

produced  this  message : 

John  Birkett  :  You  know  us.  We  will  do  what 
we  promise.  We  have  got  the  doctor's  grand- 
daughter. She  will  be  all  right  if  none  of  your 
party  tries  to  get  out  to-day  or  to-night.  She  won't 
be  if  you  do  try.     Take  notice  !     Even  if  you  try  ! 

Securing  this  note  between  flat  stones  tied 


A  Fair  Hostage  177 

firmly  together,  Rawlins  went  to  the  edge 
of  the  cliff,  waved  his  neckerchief,  and 
hallooed.  Lennox  was  soon  seen  to  leave 
the  fort  and  come  into  the  open,  rifle  in 
hand. 

"  Read  this ! "  Rawlins  shouted,  and 
tossed  the  stones  far  out  into  the  basin. 
They  saw  Lennox  pick  up  the  message,  and 
re-enter  the  fort:  Birkett,  standing  by  the 
fort  with  rifle  ready,  covering  Rawlins,  the 
while. 

After  breakfast,  while  Ferris  and  Calkins 
slept,  Rawlins,  with  rifle  across  knees,  sat 
where  he  could  overlook  the  basin,  and  at  the 
same  time  keep  watch  on  the  Indian  and 
Constance. 

"  Better  take  a  nap,  Sam,"  he  said. 

"  Bimeby.  I  think.  Miss  Connie  she 
sleep  now." 

But  Constance  kept  her  eyes  steadily  fixed 
on  the  fort,  while  in  low  tones  she  told  the 
Indian  the  experience  of  the  travelers  since 
they  left  the  Meadow,     Sam  grunted  ap- 


178  Fort  Birkett 

proval  when  she  spoke  of  Lennox.  "  Him 
come  help.  Some  way  get  out  gorge.  Him 
smart  for  white  man.  When  httle  man  on 
Sequoia  tell  him  Lennox,  what  I  say,  him 
Lennox  sure  come  help.  Him  brave  man. 
I  think." 

"  I  think  so  too,"  Constance  said  simply, 
and  then  blushed  when  the  old  Indian,  blink- 
ing at  the  sun^  smiled  grimly. 

An  hour  had  passed  thus  when  Sam,  gaz- 
ing into  the  gorge  some  hundred  yards  be- 
yond the  entrance  to  the  basin,  whispered, 
"  Him  funny  bear !  " 

Constance,  following  his  gaze,  saw  what 
had  attracted  the  Indian's  attention  and  be- 
came agitated. 

"  Hey,  Sam ! "  Rawlins  called  out  a 
minute  later.  ''  See  that  grizzly  in  the 
gorge?" 

"Sam  see.     What  for?" 

*'  I'll  try  a  shot  at  him." 

"  No,  no !  "  gasped  Constance  in  a  whisper 
to  Sam. 


A  Fair  Hostage  179 

"  Too  far/'  Sam  said,  stealthily  pointing 
his  rifle  at  Rawlins.  ''  If  kill  bear,  catch 
grub  for  man  in  fort.  You  big  fool.  I 
think." 

"  That's  so,"  laughed  Rawlins.  "  I  would 
be  a  fool  to  provision  the  fort." 

As  he  shifted  his  rifle  across  his  knees 
again,  Constance  sighed  with  relief. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

LENNOX    USES    HIS    TROPHY 

When  Mr.  Pelham  was  again  safely 
lodged  in  the  fort,  his  young  companion 
affectionately  congratulated  and  embraced 
him,  and  patted  his  shoulder — finding  that 
hand-shaking  was  a  painful  salute  for  the 
lawyer.  John  Birkett  gazed  at  him  in 
hearty  admiration,  as  he  murmured,  "  Most 
extraordinary  man,  the  Jedge  is!  most  ex- 
tra-or-di-nary !  "  But  when  he  discovered 
the  condition  of  Mr.  Pelham's  hands  and 
feet,  he  bathed  them,  covered  them  liberally 
with  bear  fat,  and  bandaged  them  with  a 
gentleness  surprising  in  one  of  his  rough  ap- 
pearance. Then  Mr.  Pelham  said  that  he 
wished  to  speak  alone  with  his  companions, 
and  Parker  was  ordered  out  into  the  gorge. 
"  Whar,"  said  Birkett  to  him,  "  ye  will  stop 
1 80 


Lennox  Uses  his  Trophy  i8i 

quiet,  like  a  sensible  man,  seeing  ez  ye  hev 
no  gun,  while  we  hev  a  number,  and  one  of 
the  same  will  always  cover  ye." 

Parker  stretched  himself  on  a  gravelly  bed, 
where  the  sun  was  already  warming  the  dry, 
still  air,  and  soon  slept  as  if  no  evil  had  beset 
his  path. 

Mr.  Pelham  then  told  his  story.  He  said 
but  little  of  his  painful  journey  to  the 
Meadow,  his  ride  on  Sequoia,  or  his  en- 
counter with  Parker ;  but  related  in  detail  all 
that  the  Indian  had  reported  to  him.  Len- 
nox started,  then  became  very  grave,  as  he 
heard  of  Constance's  plight;  and,  when  the 
story  was  finished,  Birkett  glanced  at  the 
young  man,  then  turned  away  with  a  satis- 
fied look. 

"  I  shall  go  out  at  once  to  help  Miss  Far- 
well,"  Lennox  said  quietly. 

''  At  once!  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Pelham. 

*'  At  once !  "  Lennox  repeated. 

**  The  Colonel  is  right,"  Birkett  said. 
"  Thar  are  only  three  men  up  thar,  now,  and 


1 82  Fort  Birkett 

they  are  a  tired  and  sleepy  lot.  Fact  is, 
Jedge,  thet  ef  we  had  a  horse  each  I'd  advise 
thet  we  all  make  a  break  for  it,  now.  But 
without  horses  we'd  make  mighty  leetle  dis- 
tance before  they'd  run  us  down.  To-night, 
I  reckon,  none  of  us  would  hev  much  chance 
to  git  out,  even  with  a  horse,  for  they'll 
likely  hev  eight  or  ten  men  watching  us,  and 
all  wide  awake,  too." 

"Then  Van's  best  chance  is  now,"  Mr. 
Pelham  said,  rather  sorrowfully. 

"  Now,"  Birkett  replied.  "  Ef  the  Colo- 
nel ken  git  a  few  hundred  yards  down  the 
gorge,  without  being  seen,  he'll  hev  a  safe 
start,  anyhow." 

"  But  how  is  he  to  get  from  the  fort,  un- 
seen?" Mr.  Pelham  asked. 

"  The  lower  wall  of  the  basin  will  hide  me 
from  the  lookout  on  the  bluff,  for  the  first 
hundred  yards,"  Lennox  answered.  "  From 
there  I'll  chance  a  dash  for  it." 

"  And  git  shot  in  the  back,"  observed  Bir- 
kett.    "  No,  we've  got  to  fool  'em/' 


Lennox  Uses  his  Trophy  183 

He  reached  out  from  under  the  shelter  of 
the  fort,  and  dragged  in  a  heavy  bundle :  the 
bear  skin,  the  prize  which  first  led  Lennox 
into  the  gorge.  As  he  began  to  spread  out 
the  uncouth  trophy,  already  stiffening  in  the 
moistureless  air,  his  purpose  was  seen  by  the 
others,  and  in  spite  of  the  seriousness  of  their 
state,  they  burst  into  laughter. 

"  Ye  won't  make  a  prime-looking  grizzly, 
at  close  hand,"  Birkett  remarked,  as  he 
soberly  proceeded  to  unfold  the  clumsy  hide, 
"but  I'll  gamble  ye'll  pass  for  bar  to  an 
innocent  and  unsuspecting  fellow  citizen,  at 
long  range." 

Lennox  repressed  his  youthful  sense  of 
fun  in  the  enterprise,  and  energetically  helped 
Birkett  manipulate  the  heavy  hide,  which 
yielded  to  their  combined  efforts  until  it  was 
pronounced  fit  for  its  designed  duty.  As 
they  were  about  ready  to  enrobe  Lennox, 
there  came  the  incident  of  the  message  from 
Rawlins.  When  the  note  was  taken  from  its 
stone    envelope,    and    read,    no    word    of 


1 84  Fort  Birkett 

comment  was  spoken,  but  the  work  of 
starting  Lennox  on  his  venture  was 
hurried. 

"  Before  we  fit  on  the  Colonel's  uniform," 
Birkett  remarked,  when  all  other  prepara- 
tions were  complete,  "I'll  jest  shift  Parker  a 
leetle." 

The  prisoner  was  wakened,  and  directed 
to  go  to  the  upper  end  of  the  basin. 

"  Ye'll  find  my  pan  by  the  pool,"  Birkett 
said  to  him.  "  Yer  father  was  a  miner,  and 
ye  was  meant  for  the  same,  so  ye  ken  amuse 
yerself  panning  out  some  of  the  gold  ye'll 
never  own.  While  ye're  at  it,  keep  yer  back 
to  the  fort,  and  save  trouble." 

Parker,  who  had  had  some  experience  in 
placer  gold  mining,  quickty  noted,  with 
staring  eyes,  the  richness  of  the  gravel,  and 
lost  all  interest  in  the  movements  of  his 
captors. 

It  was  difHcult  to  adjust  the  grizzly's  skin 
so  as  to  give  It  even  a  slight  appearance  of 
naturalness,  but  the  task  was  finally  accom- 


Lennox  Uses  his  Trophy  185 

plished  to  the  satisfaction  of  all.  To  extend 
the  monster's  head  properly,  the  front  part  of 
the  hide  was  supported  by  Lennox's  rifle, 
strapped  to  his  back,  its  muzzle  projecting 
beyond  his  head. 

"  It  do  give  Ephraim  a  powerful  stiff 
neck,"  remarked  Birkett,  "  but  I  reckon  thar 
ain't  no  cure  for  it." 

Receiving  his  companions'  final  well 
wishes,  Lennox  lumbered  away.  He  at 
once  turned  sharply  from  the  fort  entrance, 
in  order  to  put  the  lower  wall  of  the  basin 
between  him  and  the  watch  on  the  bluff, 
then  made  down  the  rough  gorge.  Power- 
fully built  though  he  was,  he  found  his  task 
a  hard  one,  and,  drenched  in  perspiration,  he 
soon  ached  under  the  stress  of  bearing  such 
a  burden  in  such  unaccustomed  posture.  He 
looked  longingly  at  each  bush  or  rock  which 
could  screen  him  while  he  dropped  his  dis- 
guise, but  his  determination  to  insure  his 
pwn  safety,  for  the  sake  of  Constance,  in- 
duced caution,  so  he  struggled  along  more 


i86  Fort  Birkett 

than  half  a  mile  before  he  stopped  behind  a 
safe  shelter. 

Lennox  was  so  relieved  when  he  did  cast 
aside  the  ungainly  hide,  that  he  resolved  to 
explore  the  gorge  thoroughly;  for  a  retreat 
in  that  direction  might  become  a  last  chance ; 
and  he  felt  that  he  could  now  spare  the  time 
for  this  work,  as  he  did  not  expect  to  effect 
communication  with  the  Indian  or  Constance 
until  after  dark. 

When,  unencumbered,  he  had  proceeded 
briskly  another  half-mile,  he  was  rejoiced  to 
find  Constance's  horse,  nibbling  bunch  grass 
contentedly,  and  seeming  pleased  at  the 
sound  of  a  human  voice.  Constance,  before 
leaving  the  gorge,  had  relieved  her  horse  of 
saddle  and  bridle,  but  the  animal  submitted 
readily  to  Lennox's  mounting  him  bareback, 
and,  being  Indian  broke,  was  guided  by  a 
touch  of  halter,  or  hand,  on  his  neck.  Lennox 
rode  quickly  down  the  gorge;  encouraged 
as  he  saw  that  its  sides  to  the  south  grew 
flatter,  and  less  rough.     This  disclosed  what 


Lennox  Uses  his  Trophy  187 

had  puzzled  both  him  and  Birkett:  how 
RawHns  had  taken  the  horses  out ;  for  where 
they  had  first  scrambled  down  into  tlie  gorge, 
they  never  could  have  climbed  up  out  of  it. 
Lennox  pushed  on  until,  about  five  miles 
from  the  fort,  he  was  stopped  by  a  precipice 
descending  to  a  second  gorge  below. 

They  were  between  two  falls — each  an 
impassable  barrier ! — and  a  numerous  guard 
that  night  would  make  the  sides  of  the  gorge 
equally  impassable!  The  young  man  dis- 
mounted and,  with  heavy  heart,  found  that 
escape  over  the  second  cliff,  even  if  that  way 
out  of  the  gorge  became  the  party's  last 
chance,  would  be  impossible. 

It  may  be  explained  here  that  the  river 
which  once  ran  through  that  gorge,  before 
some  caprice  of  nature  diverted  its  course, 
found  its  way  to  a  Nevada  desert  over  a 
succession  of  falls ;  and,  like  the  Carson  and 
Humboldt  rivers  of  that  State,  finally  sank 
into  the  earth.  Where  it  sank,  ages  of  shift- 
ing sands,  the  slow  growth  of  sage  brush, 


1 88  Fort  Birkett 

had  covered  its  scattered  gold.  Thus  there 
remained  no  gHttering  clew  for  the  eye  of 
the  prospector,  no  beckoning  sign,  to  send 
him  into  those  gorges  in  search  for  gold ;  and 
the  treasure  of  the  basin  remained  unsus- 
pected until  it  weighted  Mr.  Pelham's  idle 
hand. 

Above  the  second  fall,  the  flank  of  the 
gorge  to  the  south  had  an  easy  grade  for 
some  distance,  and  was  not  high ;  so  Lennox, 
his  exploration  now  wholly  ended,  reached 
the  trail  with  no  difficulty.  Crossing  it,  he 
found  that  the  country  to  the  south,  tim- 
bered scantily,  but  thickly  undergrown,  yet 
allowed  passage  for  a  mounted  man.  The 
very  difficulties  to  rapid  progress  would  be 
his  safety,  as  the  undergrowth  concealed  him 
from  the  trail  at  but  a  short  distance.  After 
noting  these  things,  and  that  the  trail,  as  far 
as  could  be  seen,  was  clear,  Lennox  con- 
sidered his  immediate  plans.  For  a  moment 
he  thought  of  a  rush  along  the  trail  easterly 
to  the  Nevada  mining  camp  which  had  been 


Lennox  Uses  his  Trophy  189 

their  objective  point.  But  that  was  two 
days'  journey  with  pack  animals ;  and  even  if 
he  could  make  it,  riding  light,  in  one  night, 
it  would  be  two  days,  at  least,  before  he  could 
return  with  help.  Next  he  considered  the 
chance  of  reaching  the  Meadow,  and  secur- 
ing horses  there :  for  now  that  he  had  found 
a  saddle-way  out  of  the  gorge,  there  was  a 
hope  of  thus  rescuing  his  friends  in  the  fort. 
But,  keenly  as  he  realized  his  obligation  to 
strive  for  the  safety  of  Mr.  Pelham,  he  could 
not  pursue  any  plan  that  would  delay  his 
attempt  to  help  Constance  Farwell. 


CHAPTER  XV 

THE    bandits'    new    LEADER 

Abandoning  all  other  purpose,  Lennox 
rode  toward  the  bandits'  camp  with  such 
haste  as  he  could;  for,  already,  the  sinking 
sun  had  cloaked  with  evening  shadows  the 
snow-capped  peaks  before  him,  changing 
them  into  majestic  towers  of  purple.  At  in- 
tervals he  dismounted  and  stole  to  the  edge 
of  the  trail,  to  see  if  any  early  sentinel  had 
yet  been  posted,  and  to  note  his  position. 
After  one  such  inspection,  finding  that  he  had 
gone  west  as  far  as  he  designed,  a  little  above 
the  basin,  he  was  about  to  return  to  his  horse 
and  wait  for  darkness,  when  he  paused,  ar- 
rested by  the  sound  of  hoof-clatter  and 
shouts  of  laughter  to  the  west.  He  dropped 
in  the  thick  underbrush,  and  a  moment  later 
heard  another  sound,  that  of  a  horseman  ap- 
190 


The  Bandits'  New  Leader   191 

preaching  from  the  east.  The  latter,  who 
proved  to  be  RawHns,  came  first  into  view. 
He  stopped  close  to  where  Lennox  lay  con- 
cealed, and  looked  eagerly  up  the  trail.  The 
riders  from  the  west  presently  came  to  a 
jolting,  clanging,  dusty  halt,  greeting  Raw- 
lins with  noisy  shouts. 

There  were  six  men  in  the  party,  includ- 
ing Dunning,  whom,  with  right  hand  ban- 
daged and  in  a  sling,  Lennox  supposed  to  be 
the  man  he  had  wounded.  Next  to  Dunning 
rode  a  lumpish,  middle-aged  man,  physically 
much  unlike  the  others ;  noticeably  so,  to  the 
hidden  observer,  as  the  only  full-bearded 
bandit  he  had  seen.  This  was  Alec  Bunker, 
leader  of  the  outlaws  who  had  been  project- 
ing Taggert  in  his  hiding  place. 

Bunker,  whose  leadership  was  a  tribute  to 
his  greater  ferocity,  rather  than  cunning,  was 
not  a  native  of  these  mountains.  He  had 
been  a  gambler,  and  "gun  man,"  in  a  Nevada 
mining  camp,  where  he  had  been  sent  to 
prison  for  murder.     He  escaped  in  a  famous 


192  Fort  Birkett 

prison  break',  in  which  the  warden  was  shot. 
Since  then  he  had  Hved  in  the  mountains  with 
other  outlaws ;  knowing  that  the  reward  for 
his  capture,  "  dead  or  ahve,"  would  be  pre- 
ferred under  the  first  alternative  by  any  peace 
officer  of  either  State  upon  whose  borders  he 
marauded.  The  others  in  the  party  were  in 
type  like  those  Lennox  had  already  seen: 
slight  figures ;  not  tall ;  pale  blue  eyes,  sunken 
and  restless ;  high  cheek  bones ;  small  blond 
mustaches.  Over  flannel  shirts  they  wore 
cross-belts  of  cartridges,  and,  besides  rifles, 
carried  revolvers.  Their  boots  were  spurred 
and  high-heeled ;  and  every  man  wore  about 
his  throat  a  handkerchief,  invariably  knotted 
in  the  back. 

Bunker's  men  had  been  celebrating,  after 
their  manner,  the  good  news  brought  by 
Dunning ;  and  their  first  greetings  were  fol- 
lowed by  a  general  production  of  flasks,  with 
boisterous  invitations  to  Rawlins  to  "  liquor 
up." 

"Well,  Dick,"  exclaimed  Bunker,  after 


The  Bandits'  New  Leader  193 

flasks  had  been  drawn  upon  with  wishes  of 
*'  good  luck,"  ''  how's  the  game  going?  " 

RawHns  told  of  the  capture  of  Parker  by 
the  supposed  Miss  Hammatt,  and  of  his 
threat  concerning  Constance  Farwell.  '*  And 
the  threat  turned  the  trick,"  boasted  Rawlins ; 
"  for  not  a  mother's  son  of  them  has  poked 
a  head  outside  the  fort  all  day.  We've 
only  seen  Parker  working  in  the  pool  with 
shovel  and  pan." 

Bunker  was  most  interested  in  the  news 
that  the  captive,  supposed  to  be  one  of  the 
travelers,  was  Dr.  Hammatt's  granddaugh- 
ter. "  What  have  you  done  with  her?  "  he 
asked. 

"  Kept  her  safe  in  camp  all  day,  of 
course." 

"That  won't  do!" 

"  Why  not?  "  asked  Rawlins  hotly. 

"  Because,"  said  Bunker,  scowling  as  he 
noticed  Rawlins'  manner,  "  that  young 
woman's  our  trump  card.  Suppose  we  don't 
fix  these  people  in  the  basin  to-morrow  ?  " 


194  Fort  Birkett 

''Well?" 

"  Well !  Dr.  Hammatt  will  be  home  to- 
morrow or  the  next  day.  He'll  round  up  a 
party  of  colonists  " — so  the  former  neigh- 
bors of  the  doctor  were  known  in  the  moun- 
tains— ''  in  another  day.  If  we're  not  in  the 
basin  by  that  time,  we  must  make  terms  with 
the  doctor.  We  want  the  gold,  and  we  want 
to  be  let  alone  while  we're  getting  it.  The 
girl's  the  winning  card  in  that  game.  She 
must  be  sent  away,  where  she  can't  be  taken 
from  us  if  the  doctor's  party  is  stronger  than 
ours.  You're  a  fool,  Rawlins,  for  keeping 
her  here  as  long  as  you  have." 

When  Bunker  ceased  speaking,  Rawlins, 
shaking  with  rage,  exclaimed :  "  Seems  to 
me,  Alec  Bunker,  you're  taking  a  mighty  big 
hand  in  this  game !  Who  located  this  plant  ? 
Who's  kept  those  folks  in  the  basin  so  far  ? 
Who  asked  you  here?  " 

''  Looks-ee  here,  old  son ;  you  must  be 
crazy,"  Bunker  replied.  ''  There  are  six  of 
us.     How  many  have  you  got  ?  " 


The  Bandits'  New  Leader   195 

Rawlins  shot  a  glance  at  Dunning,  for  the 
number  of  men  Bunker  named  showed  that 
he  included  Dunning  in  his  party,  and  the 
grin  on  Dunning's  face  was  evidence  that  the 
claim  was  warranted.  Bunker  saw  the  look, 
and  continued : 

"  Fm  the  boss  of  this  outfit ;  and  don't 
you  forget  it !  " 

From  where  Lennox  lay  he  could  see  the 
faces  of  the  men,  fixed  in  sinister  assent  to 
this  defiant  usurpation.  Rawlins'  eyes  had 
murder  in  them;  Bunker  watched  him  with 
threat  and  question  in  his  looks;  Dunning's 
sneer  at  the  deposed  leader  showed  his  loyalty 
to  the  new;  the  others  sat  their  horses  im- 
movably, only  that  their  rifles  lightly  swayed 
in  ready  balance,  and  their  cruel  eyes  fol- 
lowed every  motion  of  Rawlins. 

The  latter  first  broke  the  silence,  his  voice 
rough  with  the  rage  he  tried  to  conceal. 

"  Well,  Alec,  I  ain't  such  a  fool  that  I 
don't  savvy  the  lay-out.  It  looks  like  you're 
dealing  this  game.     It  don't  count  much, 


196  Fort  Birkett 

anyway,  which  of  us  leads.  I  know  that 
you'll  stand  for  a  square  divvy,  when  we  get 
the  dust." 

"  That's  the  kind  of  talk,  Dick !  "  Bunker 
exclaimed,  with  affected  heartiness.  ''  I'm 
older  than  you,  and  I've  been  in  a  job  or  two 
that  taught  me  how  to  break  in,  or  out,  of  a 
strong  place.  As  to  standing  for  a  square 
divvy,  why,  I'm  a  square  man.  Now,  let's 
liquor  up,  and  then  go  and  have  a  look  at 
your  camp — and  the  girl." 

After  flasks  were  again  passed  around,  the 
party  rode  down  the  trail  until  they  turned 
north  toward  the  camp,  where  Lennox  lost 
sight  of  them. 

The  young  man*3  heart  swelled  with  rage, 
then  nearly  ceased  to  beat  from  despair,  as  he 
thought  of  the  odds  now  piled  up  against 
him.  But  he  resolved  to  follow  to  the  edge 
of  the  camp,  as  soon  as  the  gathering  dark- 
ness deepened,  observe  every  move  relative  to 
Constance,  and  accept  any  chance,  no  matter 
how  desperate,  for  her  rescue. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

SAM    PAYS   AN    OLD   DEBT 

As  soon  as  Bunker  reached  camp  he  as- 
signed sentinels  to  various  posts ;  and,  when 
all  the  men  had  gone,  except  Rawlins,  Sam, 
and  Dunning,  he  turned  to  the  Indian  and 
said,  "  Sam,  you  go  north  side  post.  Watch 
close.'* 

"  Sam  no  watch  to-night,"  the  Indian  re- 
plied quietly. 

"Why?" 

"  Sam,  him  sleepy." 

"  It's  no  use,"  Rawlins  whispered.  "  He 
won't  leave  the  girl." 

"Won't,  eh?  Well,  we'll  make  him," 
Bunker  responded. 

"  Yes,"  said  Rawlins,  "  you  and  me  and 
Dunning  together  can  rush  him.  One  of  us 
197 


198  Fort  Birkett 

can  plug  him,  but  he'll  settle  one  or  two  of 
us  while  we're  about  it.  I've  tried  all  day 
to  catch  him  off  guard.  Might  as  well  try 
to  fool  a  hawk." 

"  We'll  pretend  to  send  him  off  with  the 
girl,"  Bunker  said,  "  and  plug  him  in  the 
back  when  they've  started.  He  won't  be  the 
first  Piute  I've  put  a  bullet  into." 

All  the  day  while  they  talked,  and  when, 
overcome  by  fatigue,  Constance  slept,  the 
Indian  had  guarded  the  girl  with  tireless 
endurance,  and  cunning  that  never  ceased. 
He  knew  that  his  conduct  had  convinced 
Rawlins  that  he  was  an  enemy;  knew  that 
Rawlins  had  sought  to  trap  him  into  one 
moment  of  fatal  heedlessness,  but  his  com- 
posure had  never  been  disturbed.  He  knew 
now  that  Bunker  and  Rawlins  conspired  for 
his  death ;  but  the  serenity  of  his  patient  old 
face  remained  unchanged,  except  that,  at  the 
first  sight  of  Bunker,  it  had  lighted  with  a 
sudden  flash  of  joy. 


Sam  Pays  an  Old  Debt     199 

Many  years  ago  Sam  had  guided  a  party 
in  pursuit  of  some  convicts  who  had  escaped 
in  the  famous  prison-break  that  was  led  by 
Alec  Bunker.  In  an  encounter,  Sam  had 
been  wounded  by  a  shot  fired  by  Bunker ;  and 
the  unskillful  treatment  he  had  first  received 
had  left  him  lame.  Alone,  for  more  than  a 
year,  he  continued  his  hunt — not  for  the  re- 
ward, for  revenge — but  the  infirmity,  caused 
by  the  bullet  yet  buried  in  his  leg,  grew  upon 
him,  and  hampered  his  hunt.  It  was  at  this 
time  that  the  Indian,  chancing  to  pass 
through  the  Meadow,  was  treated  and  cured 
of  his  lameness  by  Dr.  Hammatt,  whose 
sympathy,  as  well  as  professional  interest, 
was  aroused.  Sam's  gratitude  for  being 
relieved  of  his  disgrace — for  so  his  tribe 
consider  physical  abnormity — made  him 
agree  to  abandon  his  hunt,  and  remain  in  the 
Meadow,  where  Dr.  Hammatt,  in  his  own 
absence,  had  much  need  of  a  faithful  guard- 
ian for  his  daughter  and  grandchild. 
Since  then  Sam  had  been  Constance's  in- 


200  Fort  Birkett 

structor  in  lore  of  the  wood  and  mountain — 
her  slave,  in  his  heart. 

But  the  Indian  never  forgot  Bunker.  He 
recognized  him  in  the  new  bandit  leader, 
bearded,  and  otherwise  changed  as  the  con- 
vict was — as  a  hound,  even  after  years, 
recognizes  an  enemy.  With  nerves  as 
steady  as  if  no  danger  threatened  he  watched 
and  waited  now  for  the  moment  when,  for 
revenge,  and  for  Constance,  he  should  give 
his  life :  caring  nothing  for  that,  only  dumbly 
hoping  that  the  sacrifice  might  save  her. 
He  spoke  softly  to  Constance,  telling  her  that 
if  an  attack  was  made  on  him  she  was  to  rush 
to  Sequoia,  and  dash  for  the  trail.  "  Only 
three  man  now,"  he  said,  "  and  Dunning 
shoot  with  left  hand.  Him  only  half  man. 
You  ride  away,  fast.  Miss  Connie.  Sam 
keep  three  man  busy." 

"  Who's  to  take  the  girl  away  when  we  get 
rid  of  the  Indian?  "  Rawlins  asked. 

"Why,  Dick,  I  thought  you'd  like  that 


Sam  Pays  an  Old  Debt     201 

job,"  replied  Bunker,  grinning  in  a  way  that 
made  Rawlins  grin  in  return.  "  The  Indian 
can't  stay  awake  forever;  I'll  look  for  a 
chance  to  settle  him  to-night,  while  I'm  on 
watch.  You  can  pull  out  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  take  the  girl  to  my  cabin.  You 
know  it ;  a  nice  retired  place  where  you  won't 
be  bothered  by  visitors.  It's  a  long  ride 
for  you,  so  turn  in  now  and  get  some 
sleep." 

Rawlins  needed  no  urging  to  rest,  and  was 
soon  asleep  on  the  ground.  Bunker  woke 
Dunning,  and  ordered  him  to  the  north  side 
post;  warning  him  not  to  be  captured  by  a 
woman  if  he  expected  a  share  of  the  dust. 

When  Dunning  had  ridden  away,  and 
Rawlins  slept  heavily,  Bunker  spoke  to  the 
Indian  in  a  friendly  tone.  ''  Sam,"  he  said, 
''  we  won't  need  you  to  watch  to-night. 
Sleep.  To-morrow  you  take  young  lady 
away." 

Sam  neither  answered  nor  made  sign  that 
he  understood;  and  Bunker,  thinking  he  was 


202  Fort  Birkett 

already  half  asleep,  himself  affected  drowsi- 
ness as  he  sat  at  the  camp  post  overlooking 
both  fort  and  Indian. 

A  few  minutes  later  Constance,  sitting 
close  by  the  side  of  her  faithful  protector, 
felt  him  start.  It  was  only  a  slight  tremor 
of  his  body,  but  she  believed  that  it  meant 
an  important  discovery ;  so,  striving  to  show 
no  interest,  she  sought  with  her  eyes  the 
point  on  which  Sam's  were  fixed.  Beyond 
Bunker,  and  nearly  in  line  with  him,  she  saw, 
in  the  faint  starlight,  a  movement  in  the 
underbrush. 

The  Indian  yawned,  and  asked  sleepily, 
"  Mr.  Bunker,  if  Sam  take  Miss  Connie 
away,  what  horse  we  ride?  " 

"  She'll  ride  Sequoia,  and  you  your  pony, 
of  course,"  Bunker  answered. 

"  Yep,  I  forgot  Sequoia.  Him  picket  last 
horse  west ;  mine  picket  next.  Sam  so  much 
sleepy  him  fool,  I  think." 

The  Indian  said  this  in  a  loud,  clear  voice, 
unusual  with  him.     As  if  directed  by  Sam's 


Sam  Pays  an  Old  Debt     203 

words,  the  person  in  the  underbrush  moved 
westward,  noiselessly.  Constance  followed 
the  movement  with  her  eyes.  Sam  did  not. 
He  was  now  intently  watching  Bunker,  who, 
slowly,  very  slowly  and  carefully,  was  turn- 
ing his  rifle  so  that  its  aim  crept  gradually 
nearer  and  nearer  the  Indian.  Constance, 
whose  hearing  was  now  so  acute  it  seemed  to 
have  added  the  senses  of  touch  and  sight, 
knew  that  someone  was  cautiously  moving 
among  the  horses.  Her  desire  to  know  what 
the  movements  out  in  the  darkness  boded 
became  so  keen  that  she  restrained  herself 
only  by  summoning  some  of  the  Indian's 
self-control,  when  he  muttered  to  her,  "  No 
move  yet.    Wait." 

It  was  too  dark  now  to  see  into  the  forest, 
but  the  girl's  hearing  told  her  that  horses 
had  been  moved  to  a  point  between  the  camp 
and  the  trail.  So  she  waited,  as  the  Indian 
commanded;  motionless,  but  alert  to  all 
things:  the  distant  neighing  of  sentries' 
horses,  far  cries  of  night  birds.     Suddenly 


204  Fo^^  Birkett 

she  realized  that  Sam's  hands  were  steadily, 
slowly  moving.  She  did  not  look,  but  knew 
that  they  held  his  rifle. 

There  was  a  flash,  a  report  that  seemed 
horribly  loud  and  near,  and  a  bullet  from  the 
Indian's  rifle  tore  through  Bunker's  body, 
just  as  his  finger  closed  on  the  trigger  of  the 
rifle  he  had  aimed  at  Sam.  As  Bunker  fell 
back  dead,  his  own  shot  flew  high  into  the 
air. 

Sam  jumped  to  his  feet,  dragging  Con- 
stance with  him,  as  Lennox  dashed  out  of  the 
brush  toward  them.  Rawlins,  rising  from 
sleep  in  confused  alarm,  was  knocked  down 
by  a  blow  from  Lennox,  who  then  lifted 
Constance  from  the  ground  and  whirled  her 
into  Sequoia's  saddle;  and  in  an  instant  the 
three  were  riding  hard  from  the  trail,  fol- 
lowed by  Rawlins'  wild  shots.  The  sentry 
on  the  post  occupied  by  Sam  the  night  before 
was  above  them,  the  others  were  below;  so 
they  rode  straight  across  the  trail  into  the 
woods  beyond. 


Sam  Pays  an  Old  Debt     205 

"  We  catch  Miss  Connie's  rifle,  first,"  said 
Sam;  and  through  the  dark  he  led  to  the 
place  of  its  concealment.  There  they  stopped 
to  note  the  position  of  their  pursuers,  several 
of  whom  were  heard  on  the  trail  between 
them  and  the  meadow. 

"  We  cut  off,"  the  Indian  said,  after  listen- 
ing to  the  shouts,  and  sound  of  galloping 
horses.  "  No  can  get  home  to-night.  Wait 
to-morrow.  Then  see.  Sam  no  smoke  all 
day.     Him  smoke  now.     I  think." 

The  old  philosopher  deliberately  filled  and 
lit  his  pipe;  then  he  guided  his  companions 
further  into  the  forest.  When  they  had 
traveled  south  about  two  miles,  they  came 
to  a  refuge  of  natural  strength ;  an  inclosure 
protected  by  great  boulders,  suggesting  the 
fallen  ruins  of  an  ancient  tower,  or  that 
nature  had  played  there  at  fortifications. 
Sam,  who  seemed  to  know  the  place  well, 
found  an  opening,  between  two  lichen- 
flecked  boulders,  through  which  they  rode, 
single  file,  into  the  comparatively  clear  in- 


2o6  Fort  Birkett 

terior.  He  was  soon  rolled  in  the  blanket 
he  wore,  and  stretched  on  the  ground. 

''  You  watch  one  hour,"  he  said  to  Len- 
nox, "  then  Sam  watch  until  sun,"  and 
with  the  last  words  was  asleep. 

Since  the  escape  Constance  had  spoken 
but  few  words.  The  shooting  of  Bunker; 
her  suspicion  of  the  outlaws'  intended  treach- 
ery to  her  and  Sam ;  the  thought  of  her  fate, 
had  not  the  Indian's  animal-like  wariness 
anticipated  the  shot  designed  to  leave  her  a 
prisoner  without  a  protector,  had  dazed  her 
with  terror.  Lennox,  with  fond  sympathy, 
understood  her  feelings,  and  strove  to  dispel 
the  gloom  oppressing  her.  He  eagerly  re- 
assured her  that  the  worst  of  her  plight  was 
past;  urged  hopefully  that  their  situation 
promised  a  speedy  end  of  all  peril;  told 
gayly  of  Birkett's  quaint  devices  for  their 
comfort  in  the  fort,  of  his  own  masquerade 
as  bruin ;  and  soon  the  buoyancy  of  healthy 
youth  triumphed;  Constance  walked  by  his 
side  with  spirits  restored,  as  he  paced  the 


Sam  Pays  an  Old  Debt     207 

circle  of  their  stronghold,  peering  into  the 
gray,  silent  night  at  each  opening  between 
the  boulders. 

When  Sam  awoke,  punctual  on  the  hour, 
he  looked  at  the  two  without  moving,  heard 
Constance's  cheerful  tones,  their  quiet  laugh- 
ter, and  muttered,  "  Him  watch  other  hour. 
Him  think  half-hour,"  turned  over  and  went 
to  sleep  again. 

Thus  the  night  passed;  not  slowly  with 
the  young  people,  who  patrolled  the  rounds, 
talking  in  low  voices,  or  at  times  silent, 
but  that  they  sighed,  never  noting  the  hours. 
At  intervals  the  Indian  awoke,  observed  the 
pair ;  his  old  face  softened  with  a  smile,  and 
then  he  slept  again. 

''  See !  "  at  last  whispered  Lennox,  "  '  Re- 
vealing day  through  every  cranny  spies.'  " 

"  '  Brand  not  my  forehead  with  thy  pierc- 
ing light,'  "  answered  Constance,  with  a 
happy  laugh  that  she  had  recognized  his 
quotation.  Her  face  turned  toward  the 
dawnlight,  faintly  flushed,   like  the  clouds 


2o8  Fort  Birkett 

she  saw.  "  '  Revealing  day  '  will  disclose 
me  as  a  boy,"  she  added,  blushing  more 
deeply.  "  But,  sir,  I  am  a  woman — though 
I  was  bravest  in  the  dark." 

"  How  the  Indian  has  slept !  "  Lennox 
said,  seeming  not  to  notice  her  new  alarm, 
though  he  could  not  but  think  how  pretty 
she  looked,  wholly  girlish  in  the  masquerade. 
*'  ril  call  him  now ;  then  you  can  sleep  while 
Sam  and  I  watch." 

"  Hush !  "  she  said,  laying  her  hand  on 
his  arm,  as  all  its  new  color  left  her  face. 

"  I  hear  nothing,"  he  whispered. 

As  he  spoke,  Sam  stood  by  their  side. 

''  One,  two,  three,  four,"  the  Indian  slowly 
counted,  as  he  listened  to  some  sound  from 
the  west.  ''  Four  man.  Go  north,  go  south. 
Come  nearer  each  turn." 

They  were  silent  and  motionless  for  a 
minute,  then  the  Indian  added  quietly,  "  And 
two  man  come  from  east." 


CHAPTER    XVII 

A   SORTIE   FROM    THE   FORT 

John  Birkett  and  Mr.  Pelham  watched 
the  progress  of  Lennox  down  the  gorge  as 
long  as  he  remained  in  sight;  then  the 
lawyer,  with  a  sigh,  turned  to  the  camp-fire, 
saying:  ''  Now,  as  to  this  prisoner  of  ours, 
I  know  that  we  are  sore  beset  by  villains; 
that  this  fellow  is  one  of  them ;  that  he  would 
not  have  hesitated  to  deprive  me  of  my 
life,  had  I  not  chanced  to  overpower  him; 
yet,  Mr.  Birkett,  to  hold  a  fellow-being  in 
captivity  is  a  monstrous  thing — except,  of 
course,  under  due  process  of  law,  and  by 
judgment  of  a  court  of  proper  jurisdiction." 

''To  be  sure,  Jedge;  certainly,"  assented 

Birkett  gravely.     ''  Thet  young    fellow    is 

enjoying  freedom,  so  long  as  he's  washing 

out  nuggets;  but  night  will  be  coming  on, 

209 


2IO  Fort  Birkett 

and  he  must  be  jurisdicted  proper;  ez  to  the 
court,  I  ain't  jest  certain  ef  this  here  basin 
hes  in  Cahfornia  or  Nevada.  It's  nigh  the 
Hne.  Such  being  the  due  process,  I  reckon 
he'U  be  jurisdicted  most  proper  to-night  ef 
I  rope  him,  hand  and  foot,  and  give  him  a 
gravel  bed  to  sleep  on." 

''  But  v^e  have  no  authority  in  law  for  such 
restraint  of  his  person." 

"  No  more  he'll  hev  for  shooting  one  or 
t'other  of  us  in  the  back;  which  the  same  he'll 
do  ef  he  gets  a  chance." 

''Indeed!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Pelham;  feel- 
ing of  his  own  back  as  he  spoke. 

"  He  ain't  a  low-grade  sample,  by  rights, 
neither,"  resumed  Birkett.  "  His  father  is 
an  honest  man;  not  quite  in  my  line,  being 
a  quartz  miner.  The  son  got  running  off 
his  proper  location  lines,  fell  in  with  this 
mountain  gang,  and  here  he  is." 

''  I  should  like  to  speak  to  him,"  Mr.  Pel- 
ham  said. 

Parker  came  into  the  fort,  shaking  with 


A  Sortie  from  the  Fort     211 

excitement  and  exertion,  his  pockets  heavy 
with  gold.  He  was  so  dazed  by  the  riches 
which  even  his  brief  work  had  disclosed, 
that  at  first  he  gave  only  witless  answers  to 
Mr.  Pelham.  After  some  fruitless  ques- 
tions, the  lawyer  said,  **  I  am  sorry  I  had  to 
use  some  force  on  you  this  morning." 

''All  right,  mister;  all  right.  God!  I 
never  thought  there  was  the  like  of  this  in  the 
world." 

"  Are  you  suffering  from  the  blow  I  gave 
you?" 

"  No,  mister.  I'm  all  right.  Let  me  in 
on  this  strike,  and  I'll  fight  for  you." 

"  We  must  first  have  assurances  of  your 
intention  to  reform.  Mr.  Birkett  says  you 
come  of  honest  folks." 

'*  Yes,  yes !  Give  me  a  little  share  of  this 
— only  a  little  share — and  I'll  live  honest." 

"  Will  you  give  your  word  of  honor  that, 
if  we  do  not  use  force  to  restrain  you,  you 
will  not  attempt  to  escape  from  " 

"  Escape  from  this?  "  interrupted  Parker, 


212  Fort  Birkett 

plunging  his  hands  into  the  gold  that  bulged 
his  pockets. 

''  Nor  attempt  to  do  us  any  injury,"  con- 
cluded Mr.  Pelham. 

''  Yes,  I  promise.     I  swear." 

"  Then,  if  you  keep  your  word,  and  we 
end  this  adventure  alive,  I  promise  to  use 
my  influence  to  save  your  neck." 

"  I  swear — anything !  Will  I  have  a  share 
of  the  gold?" 

"  I  should  prefer  that  your  purpose  to 
reform  was  inspired  by  a  moved  conscience 
rather  than  by  the  prospect  of  reward. 
Why,  young  man,  you  have  the  possibility 
of  a  cleanly  life — a  life  that  will  not  em- 
bitter the  old  age  of  your  honest  father." 

Some  of  the  madness  of  greed  was  sud- 
denly washed  out  of  Parker's  eyes.  He 
had  never  before  been  spoken  to  in  just  that 
way. 

*'  What  do  you  say,  my  man  ?  " 

"  I'd  like  to  be  quit  of  the  gang,"  he  an- 
swered. 


A  Sortie  from  the  Fort     213 

Birkett  spoke :  "  Ef  we  git  out  of  this,  the 
Jedge  will  do  right  by  ye  in  the  court,  and 
I'll  do  right  as  to  the  dust.  Ef  we  don't  git 
out  alive,  Rawlins  will  jump  your  share,  for 
being  captured.     So  you'd  better  be  honest.'* 

"  A  masterly  summing  up,"  murmured 
Mr.  Pelham. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Parker,  ''  I  give  you 
my  word  of  honor;  I  won't  try  to  escape; 
and  if  you'll  let  me  have  my  gun,  I'll  help 
you  fight." 

Mr.  Pelham  glanced  at  Birkett,  as  if  ask- 
ing his  opinion  of  the  proposal. 

"  We — ell,"  drawled  the  old  man,  after 
a  thoughtful  pause,  "  we'll  split  the  differ- 
ence with  ye.  Ye  ken  hev  the  free  run  of 
the  basin — but  I'll  keep  the  gun." 

Parker  mumbled  his  gratitude,  and  at 
once  resumed  panning  out  gold  in  the  pool. 
He  kept  at  the  work  until  he  fell  on  the  bank, 
unable  to  move,  and  there  he  slept. 

"  Mr.  Birkett,"  said  Mr.  Pelham,  as  they 
sat  in  the  fort,  one  watching  the  gorge,  one 


214  Fort  Birkett 

the  cliff,  ''  the  doctor's  daughter  seems  to  be 
a  superior  woman." 

''  Miss  Marthy?  I  should  say  the  word 
you  used  was  the  right  one;  a  superior 
woman,  Jedge." 

''  Aged,  one  might  guess,  about  thirty?  " 

"  I  reckon  ye've  hit  it  off  to  a  year.  I've 
knowed  her,  Jedge,  these  fifteen  years,  and 
every  year  she  grows  more  superior.  She 
hez  a  lot  of  book-learning  from  her  father, 
but  it  never  spoiled  her  ez  a  superior  woman. 
Why,  sir,  she  ken  ride,  shoot,  and — and — 
well,  Jedge,  there  is  few  superior  things  thet 
I  call  to  mind,  that  Miss  Marthy  can't  do  ez 
well  ez  if  she  never  seen  the  inside  of  a  book 
in  all  her  born  days." 

"  I  observed,  too,"  Mr.  Pelham  resumed, 
''that  when  I  was  there  the  other  even- 
ing " 

"  Last  evening,"  interrupted  Birkett. 

"  Bless  my  soul !  So  it  was.  It  seems  as 
if  some  time  had  intervened  since  I  saw — 
since  then.     I  observed,  as  I  was  saying,  that 


A  Sortie  from  the  Fort      215 

she  possesses  the  quahties  we  most  admire 
in  a  housewife — diffuses  an  atmosphere  of 
domestic  refinement,  and  bears  herself  with 
admirable  decorum  at  the  head  of  a  table." 

"  When  it  comes  to  decorum,  Jedge,  I 
should  say  thet  thet  was  her  strong  holt," 
Birkett  declared,  holding  the  coal  of  fire  from 
his  pipe  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  as  he 
filled  the  pipe  with  his  fingers.  "  In  all  her 
dips,  spurs,  and  angles,  as  we  say  in  mining. 
Miss  Marthy  is  a  superior  woman,  and  spe- 
cially strong  on  decorum.  Her  brandy 
peaches,  particular,  they  are  what  I  call 
straight  goods  in  the  line  of  decorum.  When 
I  visit  the  Meadow,  which  I  do  mostly  twice 
a  year,  I  always  say,  '  Miss  Marthy,  a  game 
of  old  sledge  with  yer  father,  and  a  sample 
of  yer  brandy  peaches,  makes  a  civilized  man 
of  me  for  the  next  six  months.'  " 

"  One  is  surprised  that  so  superior  a 
woman  remains  a  spinster." 

"  Huh !  "  exclaimed  the  old  man,  tamping 
with  his  finger  the  coal  he  had  placed  in  his 


2i6  Fort  Birkett 

pipe.  *'  Thet  lady  hez  refused  a  dozen  men 
to  my  knowing.  She's  said  '  No  '  to  men 
with  good-paying  mines,  and  to  men  with 
good-paying  ranches.  They're  all  one  to 
Miss  Marthy.  I  reckon  she  ain't  to  be 
caught  by  no  marrying  nonsense." 

"Indeed,"  said  Mr.  Pelham,  and  he  did  not 
see  the  miner's  eyes  twinkling  beneath  their 
heavy  brows. 

Birkett  smoked  in  serene  silence  until  Mr. 
Pelham,  worn  and  sleepy,  lay  back  on  his 
blanket,  and  was  deep  in  slumber.  The 
miner  took  his  own  blanket  and  covered  the 
lawyer  with  it,  then  resumed  his  familiar 
position — flat  on  his  back,  head  outside  the 
fort,  but  masked,  as  usual,  with  a  pinon 
bough.  Now,  however,  his  watch  w^as  con- 
centrated on  a  special  object;  for,  from 
where  he  lay,  he  saw  a  part  of  the  Indian's 
figure,  close  to  the  edge  of  the  cliff  above 
him ;  and,  whenever  the  bandit  on  guard  was 
inattentive,  Sam,  with  the  hand  Birkett  saw, 
made  signs,   slight  motions,  repeated  over 


A  Sortie  from  the  Fort     217 

and  over.  The  miner  had  some  acquaint- 
ance with  the  sign  language  of  the  Piutes, 
in  which  both  hands  are  freely  used;  but 
Sam  now  used  only  one  hand — the  other 
never  released  his  rifle — and  for  a  long  time 
Birkett  was  in  doubt  as  to  the  signal's  mean- 
ing; and  he  many  times  returned  a  signal, 
showing  that  he  did  not  understand.  Fi- 
nally, he  was  satisfied  that  Sam  indicated 
some  place  to  the  south,  two  miles  distant; 
and  that  a  meeting  was  desired,  or  had  taken 
place.     More  than  that  he  could  not  read. 

He  pondered  long  on  what  the  unrevealed 
message  might  be,  and  upon  what  he  ought 
to  do  to  take  advantage  of  the  slight  hint 
he  had  received.  He  determined  to  go  to 
the  nearest  point  on  the  edge  of  the  trail; 
concluding  that  Sam  might  devise  some  plan 
to  communicate  further  with  him  there. 
Besides,  though  he  had  concealed  this  from 
Mr.  Pelham,  he  was  almost  resolved  to  make 
an  attempt  to  effect  his  own  and  the  lawyer's 
escape  that  night.     He  would  do  his  scout- 


2i8  Fort  Birkett 

ing  alone,  believing  it  safe  to  leave  the  pris- 
oner unguarded  for  a  while,  though  he  care- 
fully hid  Parker's  rifle  before  leaving  the 
fort. 

As  soon  as  the  gorge  was  in  darkness, 
Birkett  ascended  its  south  side ;  but  when  he 
cautiously  hazarded  a  view  of  the  trail,  his 
heart  sank.  He  saw  that  the  sentries  there 
were  too  numerous  and  vigilant  to  be  evaded 
by  Mr.  Pelham — probably  even  by  him. 
This  was  a  double  blow  to  his  hopes;  it 
forced  him  to  abandon  the  desperate  chance 
he  was  willing  to  take  to  effect  Mr.  Pelham's 
escape  that  night,  and  also  shut  off  Lennox's 
return!  Without  the  latter,  there  was  but 
one  available  rifle,  his  own,  with  which  to 
meet  a  direct  assault  upon  the  gorge;  and', 
that  the  re-enforced  bandits  would  make 
such  an  attempt  the  next  day,  he  did  not 
doubt. 

Heavy-hearted,  but  not  yet  discouraged — 
for  he  resolved  to  inspect  the  north  side,  hop- 
ing to  find  less  unfavorable  conditions  there 


A  Sortie  from  the  Fort     219 

— he  was  about  to  descend  to  the  gorge 
when  he  heard  the  sound  of  a  rifle  shot,  an- 
other, then,  a  half-minute  later,  three  or 
four  in  quick  succession. 

"  The  young  man  is  in  trouble,"  he 
thought  in  dismay ;  but  then  his  heart  leaped 
with  hope  as  he  heard  the  sentinels  on  the 
trail  riding  hard  for  the  bandit  camp. 
When  the  last  shouting  horseman  had  gal- 
loped past  him  up  the  trail,  Birkett  leaped 
and  ran  down  the  steep  descent  and  regained 
the  fort.  Neither  man  there  had  been 
roused  by  the  shooting.  Birkett  quietly 
awakened  Mr.  Pelham,  drew  him  outside 
the  fort,  gave  him  Parker's  rifle,  and  whis- 
pered excitedly : 

''  Come  along,  Jedge.  The  trail  is  clear 
and  we  must  go." 

"Where?" 

"  Two  miles  to  the  south,  first." 

**  Why,  without  horses  ?  " 

"  Because  the  Colonel's  in  trouble.  IVe 
got  to  help  him  fight  or  help  him  escape.     I 


220  Fort  Birkett 

don't  care  much  of  a  damn  which  'tis.  An- 
other day  in  thet  trap  of  a  fort  would  make 
John  Birkett  crazier  nor  a  loon.  Come  on, 
Jedge." 

He  dragged  Mr.  Pelham  along  as  if  he 
were  a  child.  His  wrath,  long  repressed, 
that  it  might  not  alarm  his  companions,  was 
now  exploding  in  a  fashion  that  astonished 
Mr.  Pelham. 

"  I  never  was  made,  nohow,  to  be  packed 
in  a  coop  and  pot-hunted  by  a  gang  of  gun 
men.     Come  on,  Jedge?     Come  on!" 

"  We  will  have  the  law  on  them,  sir," 
panted  Mr.  Pelham,  who  was  being  pushed, 
dragged,  and  at  times  wholly  carried.  "  Pll 
prosecute  those  villains  myself — if  I  have  to 
read  criminal  law  to  do  it.  I  can  walk,  my 
dear  sir;  you  need  not  carry  me.  We  will 
have  the  law  on  them." 

"  All  right,  Jedge,  ye  hev  the  law  on  *em ; 
but  what  John  Birkett  is  a  yearning  for  is  to 
hev  the  drop  on  'em." 


CHAPTER    XVIII 

THE   HUNT   FOR   THE   FUGITIVES 

Not  only  the  sentries  Birkett  heard  on  the 
trail,  but  all  others  on  sentry  duty,  hurried 
into  camp  at  the  sound  of  firing;  and  there 
was  a  confusion  of  questions,  with  but  little 
explanation.  The  recruits,  enraged  by  the 
death  of  Bunker,  angrily  demanded 
an  account  of  the  trouble.  Rawlins  could 
explain  little.  He  was  awakened,  he  said, 
by  the  first  shot,  but,  before  he  was  on  his 
feet,  received  a  blow  that  half  stunned  him. 
Within  a  minute,  however,  he  had  fired  at 
three  faintly  seen  figures,  riding  rapidly  to- 
ward the  south.  The  missing  Indian,  and 
woman,  accounted  for  two ;  the  third  he  sup- 
posed was  one  of  the  men  from  the  fort. 

Hasty  investigation  showed  that  only  two 
horses  were  missing  from  camp;  and  as  the 

221 


222  Fort  Birkett 

bandits  did  not  know  that  Constance  had 
visited  the  basin,  and  left  her  horse  in  the 
gorge,  they  concluded  that  the  third  rider 
Rawlins  saw  was  not  one  of  the  besieged. 
This  caused  uneasiness,  for  it  seemed  to 
prove  that  Constance  and  the  Indian  had 
been  helped  by  an  outsider,  who,  probably, 
was  not  alone. 

"  If  that's  so,''  said  Rawlins,  "  our  first 
hustle  is  to  round  up  that  girl.  We'll  make 
this  chase  like  we  was  on  the  dead  square — 
let  anyone  see  us  that's  trying  to — and  then, 
if  we  have  to  stand  trial  for  this  job,  we'll 
be  all  right." 

''All  right,  how?"  sneered  Maskell, 
Bunker's  lieutenant,  who  sought  leadership. 

"  Because,"  RawHns  replied,  "  we're 
honest  white  folks,  out  hunting  a  thieving 
Piute  who  carried  off  the  doctor's  grand- 
daughter." 

This  evidence  of  his  cunning  made  some 
of  the  men  disposed  to  restore  leadership 
to   Rawlins.     He  saw  his   advantage  and 


The  Hunt  for  the  Fugitives  223 

continued  boldly,  '*  I  don't  care  who's  with 
the  Indian.  Both  of  'em  are  to  be  shot  on 
sight  for  running  off  with  the  girl,  just  as 
we  was  going  to  send  her  home.  That's  all 
we'd  have  to  prove  to  a  jury  in  this  neck 
of  woods.  But  we've  got  to  have  the  girl 
now,  more  than  ever.  When  the  doctor  gets 
the  colonists  together  we'll  have  no  card  to 
play  for  the  gold,  or  for  our  necks,  without 
the  girl." 

Rawlins  had  but  adopted  Bunker's 
scheme;  still  its  renewed  promise  of  reward 
and  safety  strengthened  him  with  the  ma- 
jority of  his  hearers.  Maskell  made  another 
bid :  ''  One  woman's  as  good  as  another  for 
that  game,"  he  said.  ''  If  the  doctor  isn't 
home  yet,  we  ought  to  hustle  a  couple  of  our 
boys  up  to  the  Meadow,  and  get  the  other 
woman — the  doctor's  daughter.  The  Digger 
Indians  there  won't  interfere  with  us." 

''  You  fool !  "  cried  Rawlins,  "  the  other 
woman  is  in  the  fort.  We  saw  her  go  in, 
dressed  in  the  doctor's  clothes ;  and  covering 


224  Fort  Birkett 

Parker  with  a  rifle,  at  that.  I  see  the  whole 
game,  now;  the  two  women  put  on  men's 
clothes,  and  tried  to  get  into  the  gorge.  Sam 
met  the  young  one,  but  Dunning  was  with 
him,  so  the  Indian  made  a  bluff  of  capturing 
her." 

"  That's  so,"  declared  Dunning.  ''  Sam 
didn't  dare  leave  the  girl  go  while  I  was 
with  him.  I  recollect  he  went  up  the  trail, 
pretending  to  look  for  her  gun,  and  I  reckon 
that's  when  he  steered  the  other  woman  to 
the  north  of  the  gorge." 

This  explanation,  fortunately,  fitted  so 
well  with  the  supposed  fact  of  Miss  Ham- 
matt's  being  in  the  fort,  that  the  suggestion 
to  raid  the  Meadow  was  dropped. 

"  What  are  we  to  do,  Dick?  "  one  asked. 

"  Get  up  the  trail  farther  than  the  Indian 
and  the  girl;  open  out  across  the  country, 
and  beat  back  this  way,  both  sides  of  the 
trail,  until  we  hunt  'em  out,"  Rawlins  re- 
sponded briskly. 

''  How  about  the  folks  in  the  fort?  " 


The  Hunt  for  the  Fugitives  225 

"  We've  got  to  take  a  chance  with  them. 
Dunning's  not  fit  for  rough  work;  he  can 
stay  and  watch  the  trail.  If  Birkett's  party 
come  out  at  all,  they'll  have  to  foot  it,  and 
Dunning  can  bring  us  word  soon  enough 
for  us  to  run  'em  down  before  they've  got 
far." 

When  he  developed  this  plan  of  campaign, 
which  the  others  considered  masterly,  Raw- 
lins was  again  the  admitted  leader. 

Dunning  was  ordered  back  to  the  trail, 
grumbling  that  the  pain  of  his  wound,  his 
lack  of  sleep,  the  poor  condition  of  his  over- 
ridden horse,  made  him  unfit  for  any  duty; 
but  he  was  warned  that  a  slip  at  his  post 
would  earn  him  the  sentence  already  passed 
on  Parker — no  share  in  the  gold !  With  six 
followers,  Rawlins  rode  up  the  trail  more 
than  a  mile,  beyond  which  it  was  certain  that 
the  fugitives  could  not  have  passed  in  their 
slower  progress  off  the  trail.  At  that  point 
the  party  divided :  four — Rawlins,  Calkins, 
Ferris,  and  Maskell — going  to  the  south,  the 


226  Fort  Birkett 

others  to  the  north.  One  man  in  each  di- 
vision had  orders  to  ride  near  enough  to 
the  trail  to  keep  it  under  observation. 

There  was  a  stronger  reason  than  the  one 
he  explained  to  his  fellows,  which  prompted 
Rawlins  to  adopt  speedy  means  to  cut  off 
Constance's  return  to  the  Meadow.  The 
young  girl's  beauty  had  aroused  in  him  a 
passion  which,  until  now,  had  been  unfed  by 
hope.  He  was  not  a  colonist,  had  never 
been  a  welcome  visitor  to  the  Meadow,  yet 
had  not  been  excluded  from  the  shelter  which 
the  doctor  bestowed  without  question  upon 
any  wayfarer.  During  the  past  year  Raw- 
lins had  made  more  frequent  requests  than 
usual  for  the  privilege  of  resting  himself 
and  animals  a  day  or  two  at  the  Meadow; 
and  though  he  was  not  a  visitor  at  the  house, 
accepting,  as  did  others  of  his  class,  the 
bed  and  fare  of  the  ranchman's  quarters, 
these  occasions  afforded  him  sight  of  the 
women  of  the  family.  He  often  thought 
to  dare  the  colonists'  wrath,  and  abduct  Con- 


The  Hunt  for  the  Fugitives  227 

stance,  when  one  of  her  longer  rides  or  hunt- 
ing trips  gave  opportunity.  But  Constance 
never  rode  beyond  the  Meadow  unaccom- 
panied by  Sam;  and  no  mountaineer  was 
ignorant  of  the  Indian's  courage  and  marks- 
manship. 

Now,  that  chance  gave  the  bandit  the  role 
of  seeking  Constance's  safety,  he  resolved 
that  when  she  was  recaptured  he  would 
make  her  liberty  depend  upon  her  marrying 
him. 

''  I've  men  enough  now,"  he  thought,  "  to 
keep  her  until  we've  made  terms  for  the  gold. 
Then,  if  the  colonists  get  too  strong  for  me, 
I  can  hide  her  until  my  terms  for  her  are 
agreed  to,  or — well,  I'll  have  her,  and  the 
gold,  too,  with  or  without  agreement." 

As  dawn  came,  and  the  slow  work  of  the 
hunters  took  them  nearly  in  line  with  the 
basin,  Ferris  joined  Rawlins,  and  asked  If 
it  was  not  likely  that  Sam  had  gone  farther 
east,  or  even  into  the  basin. 

"  No,"  said  Rawlins,  "  the  Piute's  too  cun- 


228  Fort  Birkett 

ning  to  trust  to  a  trap  of  a  fort.  He  knows 
weVe  men  enough  to  rush  that,  if  the  colo- 
nists hurry  us,  and,  if  we  don't  rush  it,  that 
we'll  soon  have  the  fort  starved.  The  only 
thing  the  Indian's  got  on  his  mind  is  to  get 
the  girl  home.  We  were  fools  not  to  see 
that  from  the  first.  He'll  take  any  chance 
rather  than  go  farther  east — away  from  the 
Meadow.  When  he  found  that  we  had  him 
cut  off  from  the  trail,  he'd  look  for  good 
fighting  ground.     That's  Indian." 

The  leader's  reasoning  was  confirmed  a 
little  later,  when  Ferris  sighted  the  horses  in 
the  stronghold.  The  agreed  signal  quickly 
brought  Calkins  and  Maskell.  The  latter 
was  hurried  off  to  call  in  the  three  men  north 
of  the  trail,  and  Calkins  was  ordered  to  make 
a  safe  detour  around  the  stronghold,  and 
watch  it  from  the  east. 

Rawlins  and  Ferris  slowly  advanced; 
creeping  from  boulder  to  boulder,  from  tree 
to  tree ;  but,  when  for  some  time  they  made 
no  new  discovery,  Ferris  impatiently  said : 


The  Hunt  for  the  Fugitives  229 

"  We  can  cripple  them  by  knocking  over 
their  horses;  I'll  " 

"  By  the  Lord !  "  interrupted  Rawlins, 
"  Lennox  is  in  there !  He's  getting  careless. 
I'd  rather  have  a  shot  at  him  than  at  the 
Indian.  Don't  shoot  the  horses.  Keep  quiet, 
and  that  tenderfoot  will  give  me  a  chance  to 
spoil  his  good  looks." 

''  There's  your  chance !  "  declared  Ferris  a 
few  minutes  later.  "  Drop  him,  and  I'll  look 
out  for  the  Indian." 


CHAPTER  XIX 

SAM    GOES    HUNTING 

Sam  was  the  son  of  a  chief,  and  in  his 
youth,  before  the  Piutes  had  been  broken  and 
scattered,  was  a  warrior  to  whom  the  old 
men  looked  with  hope.  He,  they  said,  would 
restore  to  his  people  their  departing  glory; 
their  right  to  boast  of  their  strength;  to 
celebrate  in  song  the  mighty  deeds  of  their 
traditional  ancestors — the  brave  Bannocks, 
the  cunning  Shoshones ;  but  Sam,  wiser  than 
the  tories  of  his  tribe,  foresaw  the  Indians' 
final  defeat ;  urged  his  people  to  acknowledge 
the  right  of  the  white  man's  might;  and  him- 
self lived  in  peace  with  the  superior  race  he 
and  his  fathers  had  fought. 

Throughout  the  years  of  his  humble  life 
Sam  had  suppressed  the  old  tribal  spirit  of 
«3o 


Sam  Goes  Hunting        231 

pride  and  daring,  but  it  had  survived;  and 
now,  in  this  supreme  moment  of  danger,  he 
was  a  warrior  again,  brave,  commanding. 
He  stood  proudly  erect  by  the  young  people's 
side,  counting  the  enemies  none  of  them 
could  see;  and  the  change  he  made  in  his 
dress  when  Constance  first  told  him  to  track 
the  bandits,  suited  his  new  posture :  his  head 
uncovered,  a  bright  blanket  hanging  from  his 
shoulders,  feet  moccasined,  a  single  eagle 
feather  in  his  hair. 

The  approach  of  Rawlins'  party  was  dis- 
covered while  the  bandits  were  yet  ranging 
the  country;  and  long  before  they  were  in 
sight;  but  Sam  concealed  his  force  at  once, 
indicating  a  position  for  each.  Lennox,  as 
they  faced  west,  was  to  the  left,  Sam  to  the 
right,  Constance  between  them,  their  stations 
being  about  ten  yards  apart,  each  protected 
by  a  boulder.  The  young  man  searched  the 
well-covered  country,  eager  for  a  sight  of  the 
enemy;  but  Sam  only  listened,  as  he  quickly 
built  across  the  space  between  his  boulder 


232  Fort  Birkett 

and  the  next  a  low  wall  of  stones,  ingeniously- 
devised  to  afford  openings  for  lookout  and 
rifle  rest.  He  heard  the  signal  when  Ferris 
discovered  the  horses,  guessed  its  meaning; 
and  shrewdly  accounted  for  the  movements 
he  heard  when  Maskell  left  to  call  in  the  men 
ranging  north  of  the  trail,  and  Calkins 
started  on  his  detour  to  the  east  of  the 
stronghold.  He  supposed  that  the  two  re- 
maining men  would  advance,  and  then,  for 
the  first  time,  he  began  to  watch  as  well  as 
listen.  Presently  he  caught  glimpses  of 
Rawlins  and  Ferris  making  cautious  ap- 
proach, but  never  exposed  to  fire,  for  they 
took  skillful  advantage  of  every  protection. 

Constance  noted  Sam's  first  work,  and  she, 
too,  built  a  low  wall  behind  which  she  could 
crouch,  and  safely  command  a  view. 

Until  Sam  caught  sight  of  the  enemy,  he 
continued  to  direct  the  others;  cautioning 
Constance,  advising  Lennox  about  building 
his  wall,  with  which  the  young  man  had 
poor  success.     But  when  he  saw  the  bandits, 


Sam  Goes  Hunting        233 

he  became  silent,  motioned  to  the  others  to 
remain  so,  too;  and,  now  lying  flat  behind 
his  shield,  now  peering  from  behind  one 
boulder,  then  the  other,  his  eyes  darted  like 
the  play  of  lightning,  searching  every  tree- 
trunk,  rock,  bush,  that  might  conceal  the 
enemy's  careful  approach. 

At  last,  somewhat  to  his  right,  he  saw  a 
rifle  barrel  project  beyond  a  charred  tree- 
trunk,  and  he  grunted  approval  of  the  craft 
which  had  selected  a  mask  against  which  the 
rifle  was  barely  distinguishable.  Next  he 
discovered  that  the  second  bandit  was  behind 
a  rock  in  front  of  Constance.  He  glanced  at 
her,  saw  that  she  was  wholly  protected  and 
aware  of  the  situation ;  then  he  resumed  his 
watch. 

In  the  meantime,  Lennox  impatiently 
abandoned  his  attempt  to  build  a  creviced 
wall  through  which  he,  like  his  companions, 
could  see  and  remain  unseen.  He  arose, 
stood  behind  his  boulder,  and  peered  around 
its  side.      The  nearest  cover,   nearly  two 


234  F^^^   Birkett 

hundred  yards  away,  showed  no  sign  to  him 
of  danger.  If,  to  the  right,  he  saw  Raw- 
hns'  rifle,  he  supposed  it  to  be  a  blackened 
branch  of  the  burnt  tree.  So  he  further  ex- 
posed himself,  and,  as  he  did  so,  stood  where 
Rawlins  caught  his  first  glimpse  of  him. 
At  this  moment  Sam  discovered  that  the 
man  behind  the  charred  tree  was  Rawlins, 
and  that  he  would  be  a  target  for  anyone 
thirty  or  forty  yards  to  the  right.  In  a 
second  the  Indian  was  nearly  flat  on  the 
ground,  making  rapid  progress  toward  the 
point  where  he  knew  he  would  have  Rawlins 
in  view. 

Constance,  after  noting  Sam's  movement, 
turned  again  to  watch  Lennox,  and  as  she 
did  so,  her  heart  stopped  beating.  He  had 
discovered  Ferris,  almost  opposite  Con- 
stance, but  had  not  yet  discovered  Rawlins. 
He  stood  with  his  cocked  rifle  in  readiness, 
peering  around  the  boulder,  and  slowly  mov- 
ing his  body  round,  still  safe  from  Ferris, 
the  only  enemy  he  saw,  but  each  second 


Sam  Goes  Hunting        235 

coming  more  into  Rawlins'  range.  She  did 
not  dare  to  warn  him,  for  she  felt  that  if 
she  did  he  would  instinctively  start  toward 
her,  and  that  would  bring  him  wholly  into 
Rawlins'  view. 

Sam,  creeping  along  the  ground,  had  al- 
most reached  the  point  he  had  selected,  when 
he  was  startled  by  hearing  a  gasping  sob 
from  Constance. 

One  swift  glance  showed  him  that  Con- 
stance, to  protect  Lennox,  was  waiting  with 
rifle  aimed,  for  the  instant  of  time  Rawlins, 
when  he  should  shoot  at  Lennox,  must  ex- 
pose himself  to  fire.  The  Indian  knew  that 
the  girl's  agonized  eyes  meant  fear  for  the 
life  of  the  young  man  by  her  side;  horror 
that  she  contemplated  taking  a  life ! 

No  cunning  now  could  save  either  Lennox 
from  losing,  or  Constance  from  taking,  life. 
In  a  second  or  two  the  Indian  would  have 
reached  a  spot  where  he  could  prevent  both 
tragedies,  and  be  safe  himself.  But  half  a 
second  might  be  too  late.     The  Indian  knew 


236  Fort  Birkett 

this  as  a  thing  that  has  been  done;  but  all 
the  craft  and  cunning,  all  the  caution  of  his 
nature  was  swept  away  by  that  look  in  the 
girl's  eyes,  and  for  her  sake  he  jumped  to  his 
feet  in  the  open — a  target  for  Ferris.  He 
stood  straight  and  lithe,  as  in  youth ;  and  he 
smiled  scornfully  as  his  eyes  swept  past  Fer- 
ris. In  another  instant  the  Indian's  bullet 
struck  Rawlins  dead — as  Ferris  fired ! 

Sam  did  not  fall,  nor  sink,  when  Ferris' 
shot  struck  him.  That  would  have  told  the 
enemy  what  must  be  concealed.  He  stooped 
as  if  in  ordinary  caution ;  crawled  back  to  his 
boulder;  smiled  grimly  as  he  heard  Ferris 
yell  with  pain,  when  Lennox  fired,  then  sank 
down,  dying. 

Constance,  in  a  tumult  of  fear,  hope, 
shock,  saw  Lennox's  life  saved,  saw  him 
shoot  Ferris,  then  saw  the  Indian  sink  to  the 
ground. 

''  Sam!  Sam!  "  she  cried,  running  to  him, 
"  you  are  wounded !  " 

She  placed  a  hand  on  the  old  man's  moist 


Sam  Goes  Hunting        237 

forehead,  and  while  his  eyes,  all  softness 
now,  looked  his  gratitude,  he  whispered  in 
tone  of  reproof,  ''  Miss  Connie  no  cry ! 
Maybe  enemy  hear  you  cry — ^know  some 
man  here  killed." 

He  beckoned  with  his  eyes  to  Lennox, 
who  bent  over  him. 

"  You  take  care  Miss  Connie?  " 

"  I  will,"  replied  Lennox,  much  moved, 
for  he  realized  what  the  fast  failing  voice 
meant,  "  I  will,  with  my  life !  " 

*'  More  man  come.  Six.  Eight,  maybe. 
Him  find  one  dead :  Rawlins ;  one  wounded. 
Then  afraid.  No  rush  you.  You  careful. 
Help  Connie — Connie  safe !  " 

"  I  shall  be  careful,"  Lennox  answered 
gravely. 

"  Safe  till  doctor  come.     That  good." 

He  was  silent  a  little  while,  then  said, 
"  Good-by,  Miss  Connie." 

The  girl  bent  down  and  kissed  the  old 
man,  but  she  could  not  speak.  He  smiled, 
proudly    raised   his   head,    and    whispered. 


238  Fort  Birkett 

''Now  —  Sam  —  go  —  hunting  " —  then  fell 
back,  dead. 

Constance,  kneeling,  prayed  for  the  brave, 
faithful  soul,  and  Lennox  knelt  by  her 
side. 


CHAPTER  XX 

MARTHA    HAMMATT's    CAPTIVES 

Miss  Ham  mattes  temperament  little  in- 
clined her  to  serve  by  waiting.  After  Mr. 
Pelham's  departure  with  the  supply  of  am- 
munition, she  restlessly  considered  whether 
her  duty  was  to  guard  the  home  until  her 
father's  return,  or  to  go  at  once  to  Con- 
stance's aid.  The  long  absence  of  her  niece 
caused  her  keen  anxiety,  which  would  not 
abate,  although  she  strove  to  quiet  her  alarm 
by  dwelling  on  the  girl's  daring  and  wood- 
craft; and  when  morning  came  with  no 
word  of  Constance,  her  heart  sickened  with 
apprehension. 

Events  at  the  Meadow  added  to  her  dis- 
quiet. Two  Digger  Indians — the  only  re- 
maining servants,  for  the  one  white  em- 
ployee was  with  the  doctor — had  been  or- 
239 


240  Fort  Birkett 

dered  by  Sam  to  take  provisions  to  Evanson 
in  his  hiding  place.  After  their  second 
visit  to  him  the  Indians  neglected  their  duties 
about  the  stables,  and  toward  evening  dis- 
appeared, and  with  them  two  horses.  Miss 
Hammatt  guessed  aright  that  the  Diggers 
were  gone  in  search  of  Evanson's  pursuers, 
greedy  for  such  share  of  the  reward  as  they 
could  bargain  for  in  return  for  information 
of  the  train  robber's  hiding  place,  and  help- 
lessness. 

She  felt  no  personal  fear,  though  her  state 
was  now  lonely  and  insecure;  but  when  an- 
other night  approached  without  news  of 
Constance,  who,  she  knew,  could  be  detained 
so  long  only  by  great  danger.  Miss  Hammatt 
resolved  to  go  in  search  of  her.  Inaction 
had  become  intolerable.  Her  father  would 
return  the  next  morning,  but  to  wait  for  him 
might  involve  disastrous  delay:  so,  con- 
vinced that  it  was  her  duty  to  act,  she  wrote 
a  note  to  inform  her  father  of  events,  and, 
soon  after  dark,  left  the  house,  afoot,  for  the 


Martha  Hammatt's  Captives  241 

horses  left  at  the  Meadow  were  not  trained 
for  the  work  of  her  enterprise.  She  carried 
her  rifle,  and  over  her  shoulder  was  slung  a 
light  pack  of  supplies,  such  as  only  a  sur- 
geon's daughter  would  have  carried.  The 
journey  before  her  was  long,  but  not  rough, 
unless  she  were  obliged  to  leave  the  trail; 
and  some  doubt  of  her  endurance  which  she 
first  felt  vanished  when  she  recalled  the 
harder,  trailless  journey  the  lawyer  had 
made. 

Miss  Hammatt  had  been  an  elder  sister  to 
Constance,  rather  than  an  aunt,  and  there 
was  strong  affection  between  them,  the 
greater,  because  of  their  almost  total  isola- 
tion from  the  society  of  other  women ;  so  her 
anxiety  on  the  girl's  behalf  was  deep, 
though  it  did  not,  in  truth,  exclude  a  lively 
apprehension  for  the  travelers.  Mr.  Pel- 
ham's  excellent  spirits,  his  courtly  deference 
to  her,  so  unlike  the  grave,  commanding 
manner  of  her  father,  had  excited  a  pleasant 
interest  in  her  mind. 


242  Fort  Birkett 

When  the  first  gray  of  day  imposed  more 
caution  in  her  progress,  she  turned  from  the 
trail  into  the  thicket  to  the  south;  making 
her  way  slowly  until  she  judged  that  she  was 
far  enough  east.  She  was  about  to  venture 
north  across  the  trail,  and  had  nearly  reached 
its  edge,  when  she  heard  voices,  and  quickly 
withdrew  into  shelter.  Attempts  to  gain  a 
position  from  which  she  could  see  the 
speakers  failed,  for,  hampered  by  skirts,  she 
could  not  move  without  displacing  some- 
thing— a  fallen  leaf,  a  stone,  a  bit  of  brush 
— whose  movements  seemed  to  rack  the  hush 
of  dawn  like  crashing  trees.  Once  she 
fancied  the  voices  abruptly  ceased,  as  if  the 
speakers  caught  some  hint  of  her,  and  at- 
tended in  suspecting  silence.  Her  stealthy 
advance,  made  while  her  blood  surged  so 
that  it  roared  in  her  ears,  took  her  only  near 
enough  to  the  speakers  to  distinguish  oc- 
casional words.  But  those  magnified  her 
alarm. 

The  speakers  were  Maskell,  and  the  three 


Martha  Hammatt's  Captives  243 

bandits  he  had  signaled  to  the  trail.  He 
described  to  them  the  place  where  the  fugi- 
tives had  been  found,  and  gave  them  Raw- 
lins' orders  to  go  far  enough  down  the  trail 
to  join  Calkins  and  surprise  the  stronghold 
by  a  rear  attack.  The  others  asked  Maskell 
if  it  was  certain  that  the  girl  was  in  the 
stronghold,  and  he  told  them  that  he  had 
seen  there  the  horse,  Sequoia,  which  Miss 
Farwell  rode  when  she  escaped  from 
camp.  He  was  to  return  to  Rawlins  and 
help  keep  the  fugitives'  attention  to  the  west, 
until  the  others  came  upon  them  from  the 
east. 

Miss  Hammatt  caught  enough  of  this  to 
know  that  the  man  who  should  strike  into 
the  rough  land  near  her  was  going  direct  to 
where  Constance  was  besieged,  and  him  she 
resolved  to  follow.  This  she  did ;  less  fear- 
ful when  Maskell  began  his  journey,  for  she 
knew  that  man,  or  beast,  when  in  motion,  is 
less  likely  to  discover  a  pursuer  than  when 
motionless.     The  bandit  was  never  out  of 


244  Fort  Birkett 

her  sight;  she  quickened  or  slackened  her 
pace  with  his,  stopped  when  he  stopped  to 
signal;  and  felt,  rather  than  saw,  his  sur- 
prise that  his  signals  were  not  answered. 

Skillfully  screening  himself,  he  advanced 
again;  again  halted,  and  softly  signaled; 
once  more  moved  forward,  creeping,  toward 
a  definite  point — and  Miss  Hammatt  felt 
that  she  was  nearing  Constance.  Maskell 
suddenly  drew  back,  half  rising,  and  with  a 
muffled  cry  of  fright.  He  had  crept  upon 
Rawlins'  body.  After  a  wondering  pause, 
he  moved  to  his  right,  directed  by  the  sound 
of  groans,  and  she  saw  him  bend  over  Ferris, 
and  give  attentive  heed  as  the  wounded  man 
told  the  story  of  the  attack  and  repulse. 

Then,  for  the  first  time,  Miss  Hammatt 
dared  to  divert  her  look  from  Maskell,  and 
examine  the  country  ahead.  It  was  some 
seconds  before  her  eyes,  filled  with  the  yet 
almost  level  rays  of  the  sun,  could  define 
objects;  but,  slowly,  a  familiar  form  fixed 
itself  out  of  the  shimmer  of  light — her  own 


Martha  Hammatt's  Captives  245 

horse,  Sequoia.  Next,  a  little  way  from  the 
animal,  targets  for  Maskell,  should  he  dis- 
cover them,  she  saw  Constance  and  Lennox, 
standing  by  the  side  of  something  they  had 
covered  with  a  blanket. 

To  call  out  to  her  friends  would  betray 
herself  and  them  to  Maskell;  so  after  a 
moment's  indecision,  and  a  prayer  that  her 
voice  should  not  disclose  her  fear,  she  said, 
slowly,  distinctly: 

*'  If  you  turn,  I'll  shoot." 

Maskell  started  violently,  but  did  not 
turn. 

"  I  am  Miss  Hammatt :  I  am  aiming  my 
rifle  at  your  head." 

She  felt  her  knees  giving  way;  steadied 
herself,  and  added : 

"  Put  your  rifle  behind  you,  without  turn- 
mg. 

Maskell  did  as  he  was  told. 

"  Put  the  wounded  man's  rifle  behind 
you." 

He  obeyed. 


246  Fort  Birkett 

"  Now,  hold  up  your  hands,  and  keep 
them  up/' 

The  bandit's  hands  went  up,  and  they 
shook  more,  even,  than  hers.  Noting  this, 
Miss  Hammatt  gained  composure,  and  she 
called  out  boldly : 

"  Constance !     Constance !  " 

At  the  sound  of  the  voice,  Lennox  sprang 
from  the  inclosure  and  ran  toward  her; 
amazed  at  the  sight  of  Maskell,  hands  aloft, 
perspiring  in  terror  of  the  unseen  menace 
following  him.  When  Lennox  ordered  the 
bandit  to  precede  him  into  the  stronghold. 
Miss  Hammatt  dropped  her  rifle,  rushed  to 
Constance,  clasped  the  girl  in  her  arms,  and 
struggled  against  a  sudden  disposition  to 
faint. 

Lennox  took  his  prisoner  remote  from 
where  the  women  sat  with  arms  around  each 
other,  sobbing  delightedly,  and  bound  him, 
not  speaking  as  he  worked.  Maskell,  too, 
was  silent;  his  amazed  eyes  fixed  upon  Miss 
Hammatt,  until  the  bridle  straps  were  well 


Martha  Hammatt's  Captives  247 

drawn  at  his  ankles,  knees,  and  wrists. 
Then  he  whispered  hoarsely :  "  Young  fel- 
low, you  might  as  well  shoot  me.  I  can't 
live  in  these  here  mountains  after  this — after 
being  held  up  and  captured  by  a  crying 
woman." 

"  The  hangman  will  save  you  from  endur- 
ing a  mortified  existence  very  long,"  Lennox 
said. 

He  turned  to  put  the  women  in  places  of 
safety,  when  all  started  at  the  sound  of  two 
rifle  shots,  to  the  east.  Lennox  hurried 
Constance  and  her  aunt  behind  protecting 
boulders,  picked  up  his  rifle,  and  was  seeking 
a  station  for  himself,  when,  glancing  in  the 
direction  of  the  alarm,  he  shouted  joyfully, 
and  dashed  out  toward  Birkett,  running 
toward  him — dragging  Mr.  Pelham  after 
him. 

"Don't  tech  the  Jedge:  he's  hurt,"  cried 
Birkett,  as  Lennox  caught  hold  of  his  friend. 

''  Nothing  serious,  Vanderlyn.  Nothing 
much,    I    assure   you,"    Mr.    Pelham    said. 


248  Fort  Birkett 

in  reply  to  the  young  man's  alarmed 
looks. 

Birkett,  when  the  inclosure  was  reached, 
said  ruefully,  '*  Calkins  done  it.  I'm  to 
blame.  I  was  looking  for  this  here  place; 
but  I  should  hev  seen  him.  I'm  deaf  and 
dumb  and  blind.  But  Calkins  won't  lie  in 
ambush  for  nobody  else — except  his  friend 
the  devil." 

He  took  off  Mr.  Pelham's  coat,  and  found 
a  wound  in  the  lawyer's  left  arm.  The  old 
miner  was  applying  a  bandage,  tenderly 
enough  but  clumsily,  when  Miss  Hammatt, 
whom  neither  he  nor  Mr.  Pelham  had  seen, 
bent  over  the  lawyer,  and  said,  "  John  Bir- 
kett, stick  to  your  rifle :  nursing  the  wounded 
is  woman's  work." 

"Bless  my  soul!  this  is  an  unexpected 
pleasure,"  Mr.  Pelham  exclaimed,  when  he 
saw  who  the  new  nurse  was. 

Miss  Hammatt  quickly  took  from  her 
pack  everything  needed  for  properly  dress- 
ing the  wound,  and  said,  as  she  skillfully 


Martha  Hammatt's  Captive    249 

worked,  "  Uhexpected  ?  To  be  sure,  you 
could  not  expect  me  to  expect  to  find  you 
wounded." 

''  I  spoke  of  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you 
again." 

"  Oh,  pshaw !  You  must  never  be  sur- 
prised at  anything  I  do,"  she  replied,  "  for 
example,  sir,  I  just  now  captured  a  man." 

"  Madam,  you  have  captured  two,"  de- 
clared Mr.  Pelham — and  winced  as  the 
nurse  gave  a  wry  turn  to  the  bandage. 


CHAPTER  XXI 
Parker's  bag  of  gold 

Not  long  after  Birkett  and  the  lawyer  left 
the  basin,  Parker  awoke  from  tortured  sleep, 
screaming,  "  No,  no !  Not  the  gold !  My 
life  first!     I  can  fight!" 

It  was  a  minute  before  he  shook  off  the 
horror  of  his  dream,  and  realized  that  he  was 
not  attacked,  not  robbed,  that  the  gold  was 
really  there  by  his  side.  Hearing  no  sound 
in  the  fort  he  went  there,  and  was  amazed 
to  find  signs  of  its  hasty  abandonment. 

Alone?  and  with  all  that  gold!  All  that 
he,  and  the  others,  had  taken  out !  AH  that 
he  might  yet  filch  from  the  pool  before 
morning!  The  poor  fellow  wept  in  an 
ecstasy  of  greed.  He  dashed  into  the  shal- 
low pool  and,  by  the  uncertain  light  from  a 
small  fire  he  scarcely  stopped  to  replenish, 
250 


Parker's  Bag  of  Gold       251 

worked  with  insane  energy.  Insane,  indeed, 
when,  from  a  natural  bed-rock  riffle,  his  drip- 
ping shovel  brought  up  nearly  as  much  gold 
as  gravel,  and  the  pile  of  dully  gleaming 
treasure  grew  until  its  weight  was  more 
than  he  could  lift!  Then,  finding  that  he 
had  more  gold  than  he  could  carry  away, 
his  distracted  mind  broke  under  the  strain  of 
thwarted  avarice. 

Putting  into  a  sack  all  that  he  could  carry, 
cursing  that  all  could  not  be  taken,  laugh- 
ing at  the  weight  under  which  he  bent,  the 
madman  struggled  up  to  the  trail ;  only  to  be 
met,  as  he  chattered  of  his  escape,  by  Dun- 
ning, just  awakened  from  an  all-night  sleep. 

"  Hello,  Parker !  '*  exclaimed  Dunning, 
**how  did  you  get  out?  God,  man!  what 
have  you  got  ?  " 

''  Gold !  Gold !  '^  cried  Parker.  He  was 
haggard  and  disheveled;  face,  hands, 
clothes  smeared  with  wet  earth.  ''Gold! 
My  gold !  Your  horse !  I  must  get  to  the 
valley." 


252  Fort  Birkett 

Before  Dunning  could  steady  his  wits, 
shaken  by  the  other's  words  and  looks, 
Parker  staggered  to  the  horse,  and  tried  to 
fasten  his  precious  burden  to  the  saddle. 

"  Hold  on  there !  "  commanded  Dunning. 
He  drew  his  pistol  with  his  left  hand  and 
pointed  it,  unsteadily,  at  Parker.  "  If  that's 
gold  a  share  of  it's  mine." 

"  It's  mine !  All  mine !  "  Parker  screamed. 
"  Drop  your  gun!  Drop  it,  I  say,  or  I'll  kill 
you!" 

He  settled  the  sack  in  the  saddle,  then 
turned  and  faced  Dunning,  who  now  saw 
that  he  had  a  madman  to  encounter.  But 
he  saw  at  the  same  time  the  full  bulk — al- 
most felt  the  weight — of  the  gold  bag ;  and, 
doubtful  of  his  lefthand  aim,  said  coaxingly, 
"We're  pals,  Parker,  ain't  we?  Divide 
equal.  We'll  pack  the  stuff  down  to  the 
valley  before  the  other  boys  know  we've  got 
It.  That's  fair,  Parker.  Divide  even. 
Think  of  the  good  times  we'll  have  together. 
There's  enough  for  both.     Divide  even." 


Parker's  Bag  of  Gold       253 

"  I'll  not  divide.  It's  all  mine.  Drop 
your  gun,  I  say." 

Dunning  aimed,  and  fired.  As  he  did  so 
the  madman  sprang,  and  closed  with  him, 
and  they  fought  for  the  pistol.  The  struggle 
was  short,  for  Dunning  was  sorely  dis- 
tressed by  his  wounded  hand.  As  he  felt 
the  pistol  slip  slowly  from  his  grasp  he  cried, 
"  I've  got  enough.  Parker !  I  say  I've  got 
enough.  For  God's  sake  don't  shoot  me! 
I'm  wounded — unarmed — don't  " 

Parker  pressed  the  pistol  against  Dun- 
ning's  side,  fired,  and  they  fell  together. 

The  horse,  quietly  cropping  the  scattered 
growth  of  grass  that  found  scant  lodgment 
by  the  side  of  the  trail,  turned  to  look,  with 
troubled  eyes,  at  the  silent,  prostrate  figures ; 
then  shook  itself  to  dislodge  the  unwelcome 
weight  in  the  saddle.  The  bag  fell  to  the 
rocky  trail  with  a  crashing  blow,  burst,  and 
scattered  its  flood  of  yellow,  until  it  mixed 
with  a  trickle  of  red,  flowing  from  the 
motionless  bodies.     The  animal  sniffed  at 


254  Fort  Birkett 

the  yellow  grains,  turned  from  them,  dis- 
appointed, and  slowly  pursued  its  patient 
search  for  food. 

Such  was  the  scene  the  three  bandits  came 
upon  before  they  turned  from  the  trail  on 
their  way  to  attack  Indian  Sam's  stronghold 
on  the  east.  They  were  walking  their  tired 
horses,  when  one  of  the  men  halted  and 
pointed  to  the  bodies  in  the  trail. 

''  It's  Dunning !  "  exclaimed  one.  "  And 
Parker ! "  he  added  excitedly,  as  they  drew 
nearer. 

"  Both  dead,"  declared  another,  who  first 
dismounted  and  bent  over  the  bodies. 
*'What  kind  of  a  job  is  this?  Parker  is 
shot  clean  through  the  body,  yet  he's  got  the 
only  gun.  Poor  Dunning  drilled  through, 
too!" 

A  bandit,  who  had  turned  from  the  bodies, 
searching  for  some  explanation  of  the 
tragedy,  uttered  a  cry  which  drew  the  others 
to  his  side.     He  was  on  his  knees  gathering 


Parker  s  Bag  of  Gold       255 

handfuls  of  gold — and,  as  he  worked,  his 
hands  were  crimsoned.  Dropping  their 
rifles,  the  others  flung  themselves  on  the 
ground,  saw  the  sack,  and  fought  for  it; 
rolled  over  each  other;  cursed,  tore  at  one 
another's  throats,  then  at  the  bag,  now 
empty,  but  still  fought  for  with  blind 
savagery. 

At  last,  one,  strongest  and  youngest, 
sprang  aside,  seized  his  rifle,  and  shouted, 
*'  If  this  is  each  man  for  himself,  I've  got  the 
drop  on  you  fellows.  If  it's  to  be  a  fair 
divide,  stand  apart,  here,  and  agree  on  the 
game." 

The  other  two  looked  as  if  they  would  like 
an  equal  chance  to  fight  for  the  whole 
treasure;  but  quickly  realized  their  disad- 
vantage, rose,  gasping,  and  listened  while 
the  young  man  spoke.  He  proposed  that, 
after  an  equal  division  of  the  gold,  they 
should  hold  together  for  mutual  defense 
until  they  were  out  of  the  mountains. 

*'  No  need  of  us  now,"  he  said,  ''  to  cap- 


256  Fort  Birkett 

ture  the  girl  Rawlins  wants  to  hold  for  this 
gold.  We've  got  the  gold.  Do  you  agree 
that  the  haul  is  to  be  divided  into  three  equal 
parts?" 

They  growled  assent. 

"  Dunning  must  have  gone  into  the  gorge 
and  helped  Parker  out.  No  one  man  packed 
that  weight  of  dust  up  to  the  trail.  I  reckon 
they  was  chased  by  the  parties  in  the  basin, 
and  both  shot  while  making  a  stand  here. 
Anyway,  they're  out  of  the  game;  and  as 
they  was  the  only  one  of  our  party  that  had 
any  claim  on  the  stuff,  it's  ours,  now." 

**  If  they  were  shot  by  parties  from  the 
basin,  why  didn't  those  parties  take  the 
dust?"  one  asked.  ''I  figure  it  out  that 
Parker  and  Dunning  quarreled  and  killed 
each  other." 

'*  All  the  more  reason  for  us  not  to  quarrel, 
and  leave  the  dust  and  our  bodies  for  Raw- 
lins' pets  to  find.     Now,  how'll  we  divvy?  " 

It  was  agreed  that  the  common  glass 
whisky   flask   each    carried    should   be   the 


Parker's  Bag  of  Gold       257 

measure.  Each  was  to  fill  his  flask  in  turn, 
and  refill,  until  the  finer  dust  was  divided. 
The  nuggets  were  then  to  go:  one  to  each 
bandit,  in  turn,  the  order  of  choice  to  be 
decided  by  lot,  and  that  order  to  be  main- 
tained until  all  were  chosen.  When  they 
had  sworn  to  abide  by  this  agreement,  the 
young  man  said,  ''  Now  get  to  work,  or 
Rawlins  will  be  sending  a  man  for  us,  and 
we'll  have  to  give  him  a  share,  or  " 

"  Or  let  him  share  with  Dunning  and 
Parker,"  interrupted  another  grimly. 

They  returned  to  the  gold,  and  worked  ac- 
cording to  the  agreed  plan ;  each  placing  his 
rifle  behind  him :  ''  For  fear  of  accidents," 
the  young  man  said. 

Watching  each  other  with  wolfish  eyes, 
each  filled  his  flask,  in  turn,  and  emptied  it 
into  his  own  division ;  the  many  nuggets  too 
large  to  be  forced  into  the  flasks  being 
placed  in  a  fourth  pile,  for  final  division. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

THE    PURSUERS    PURSUED 

The  party  we  left  in  the  stronghold  made 
hasty  preparation  for  retreat  to  the  Meadow. 
For  the  Indian  they  made  a  tomb  of  rocks, 
where  they  laid  him,  wrapped  in  his  blanket, 
his  rifle  by  his  side,  after  Mr.  Pelham  had 
asked  the  Father  of  all  mercies  to  be  merci- 
ful to  the  soul  of  the  man  who  had  given  his 
life  in  charity — which  is  love.  Ferris  was 
carried  into  the  inclosure,  where  Miss  Ham- 
matt  gave  his  wound  such  care  as  she  could, 
and  Birkett  left  with  him  his  own  food  and 
water. 

Then  they  started  for  the  trail ;  the  women 

on  the  horses,   guarding  Miss  Hammatt's 

prisoner;   Mr.   Pelham  next  on  the  pony; 

Birkett  and  Lennox  on  foot  in  the  rear,  from 

258 


The  Pursuers  Pursued     259 

which  direction  only  they  looked  for  at- 
tack. 

When  they  reached  the  trail,  Birkett  ad- 
vised that  the  women  and  Mr.  Pelham  ride 
for  the  Meadow,  as  fast  as  possible,  leaving 
him  and  Lennox  to  follow  with  the  prisoner 
at  their  best  gait.  Mr.  Pelham  demurred  to 
this;  saying  that  he  was  as  able  to  walk  as 
the  others,  but  his  argument  was  abruptly 
closed  by  the  appearance  above  them  on  the 
trail  of  three  horsemen,  at  the  sight  of  whom 
Miss  Hammatt  exclaimed,  "  Thank  God,  my 
father!" 

The  doctor  was  accompanied  by  the  serv- 
ant, who  had  been  absent  from  the  Meadow 
with  him,  and  the  colonist  whose  family  the 
doctor  had  visited. 

Dr.  Hammatt  embraced  his  daughter  and 
Constance,  saluted  the  men  gravely,  and  then 
listened  to  Birkett's  account  of  the  strength, 
and  probable  whereabouts,  of  the  surviving 
bandits. 

At  the  close  of  the  miner's  narration.  Dr. 


26o  Fort  Birkett 

Hammatt  said,  "  Our  horses  are  not  fresh, 
but  we  shall  at  once  pursue,  and  try  to  run 
down  these  villains/' 

"  But  they  are  five,"  exclaimed  his  daugh- 
ter, "  and  you  are  but  three." 

"  We  are  at  least  four,"  Lennox  said. 

The  doctor  looked  approval  of  the  young 
man's  avowed  purpose  to  join  in  the  pursuit; 
and  bowed  acknowledgment  when  Birkett 
said,  "  Counting  me,  we  are  five,  Colonel." 

Constance  turned  pale  and  said,  ''  Grand- 
father, Mr.  Lennox — and  Mr.  Birkett — are 
much  worn — by  fatigue,  hunger,  lack  of 
sleep.  Should  you  not  wait  until  a  larger 
party  can  be  collected  ?  " 

"  What  you  say  will  justify  Mr.  Lennox, 
as  well  as  Mr.  Pelham,  in  returning  to  the 
Meadow  with  you.  I  go  on  at  once,"  the 
doctor  replied. 

"  Ez  for  me,"  said  Birkett,  "  I  hev  quite 
a  leetle  mining  interest  down  in  thet  thar 
gorge,  which  I  am  afeered  those  rascals  will 
not  respect.     I  go  with  the  doctor." 


The  Pursuers  Pursued      261 

"  And  I,  also,"  Lennox  said.  He  stepped 
to  Constance's  side,  and  whispered,  "  But  I 
shall  return  to  you." 

''  Sir !  "  cried  Mr.  Pelham  to  the  doctor, 
*'  we  shall  outnumber  those  villains.  I  shall 
go  with  you." 

Miss  Hammatt  seemed  about  to  say 
something  of  a  decided  character  to  the 
lawyer,  but  checked  herself  and  looked  at  her 
father  in  a  way  to  bring  an  expression  of 
great  surprise  into  his  face.  She  flushed  at 
her  father's  glance;  but  was  reassured  when 
he  said,  "  Mr.  Pelham,  I  appreciate  your 
spirit,  sir;  but  a  fighting  force  is  hampered 
by  its  wounded.  Besides,  I  shall  feel  re- 
lieved to  know  that  the  ladies  of  my  family 
are  protected  at  home  by  so  brave  a  gentle- 
man as  you  prove  yourself  to  be." 

Bowing  as  he  concluded,  the  doctor 
started  down  the  trail,  followed  by  his  com- 
panions. Without  further  word  Miss  Ham- 
matt  and  Constance  dismounted  and  turned 
their  horses  over  to  Birkett  and  Lennox,  who 


262  Fort  Birkett 

swung  into  the  saddles  and  spurred  to  the 
pursuit. 

When  the  party  had  proceeded  down  the 
trail  as  far  as  the  head  of  the  gorge  Birkett 
said,  "  I'd  better  prospect  ahead  here,  doctor. 
Mebbe  I  ken  locate  whar  they  turned  off  to 
the  south.  It  '11  save  time  ef  we  start  fair  on 
their  trail." 

The  others  drew  rein  while  Birkett  went 
ahead  on  foot.  In  a  few  minutes  he  hur- 
ried back,  signaled  to  them  to  dismount,  and, 
when  they  joined  him,  whispered,  "  They're 
trapped,  doctor !  They're  taking  a  meal  off 
the  bait,  jest  now,  but  we'll  spring  the  trap 
on  'em  ez  sure  ez  I'm  a  foot  high!  Kindly 
hev  your  guns  handy  for  use,  gentlemen, 
and  follow  me." 

Without  asking  explanation,  the  party 
silently  followed  Birkett  until  the  bandits, 
absorbed  in  their  work  over  the  division  of 
the  gold,  came  into  full  view.  Then  they 
halted,  as  Birkett  stepped  into  the  middle  of 
the  trail,  and  called  out : 


The  Pursuers  Pursued      263 

"  We  hev  the  drop !  The  first  man  ez 
touches  his  gun  is  dead/' 

The  old  man's  voice  was  clear  and  steady 
— ^had,  even,  its  usual  kindly  quality  of  tone, 
but  its  effect  on  those  addressed  was  of  an 
angry  thunder  crash.  Their  hands  trembled, 
and  their  heads  dropped  as  if  dodging  blows. 

"  Jest  take  a  quiet  look  this  way ;  heving 
in  mind  what  I  remarked  about  guns,"  Bir- 
kett  continued. 

The  bandits  turned  affirightedly;  and  ut- 
tered snarling  curses  when  they  saw  five 
steady  rifles  covering  them. 

"  Thank  ye  for  being  so  obleeging,"  Bir- 
kett  said.  "  Now,  the  man  to  the  left, 
nighest  the  gorge,  will  please  step  this  way; 
continuing  to  obleege  by  holding  up  his 
hands,  ez  he  comes." 

The  man  obeyed,  as  did  the  other  two  in 
their  turn;  and  the  doctor  and  Lennox 
guarded  them,  while  Birkett  and  the  colonist 
bound  them. 

"  I  hev  assisted,"  continued  the  old  miner, 


264  Fort  Birkett 

as  he  superintended  these  proceedings,  "  I 
hev  ably  assisted — which  was  the  words  of 
the  editor  who  wrote  a  piece  about  it  in  the 
Placerville  paper — at  a  small  affair  which 
related  to  three  other  gents  ez  got  mixed  up 
with  some  dust  they  didn't  wash  out,  but 
another  man  did.  In  thet  affair,  it  being  in 
the  early  days,  we  didn't  waste  much  rope  on 
their  arms — we  needed  the  rope  for  their 
necks.  But  we're  more  civilized  these  here 
days.  Honest  men,  who  ketches  a  thief 
stealing,  ain't  allowed  to  punish  the  thief; 
but  hez  to  prove  to  twelve  other  men,  as 
didn't  see,  and  is  likely  not  to  believe,  thet 
they  did  ketch  the  thief  stealing.  Now, 
doctor,"  he  added,  "  I  reckon  ye' re  anxious 
to  get  to  the  Meadow,  to  look  after  the 
women  folks,  and  see  ef  Miss  Marthy's  give 
the  Jedge's  arm  proper  treatment." 

"  True,"  said  the  doctor.  "  But  why  do 
not  you  and  Mr.  Lennox  return  to  the 
Meadow  with  us  ?  We've  accounted  for  all 
of  the  rascals  you've  seen,  but  others  may 


The  Pursuers  Pursued     265 

have  been  sent  for;  and  that  makes  me 
averse  from  leaving  you  here." 

"We'll  return  with  ye,"  Birkett  answered, 
"  ef  ye'll  wait  while  the  Colonel  and  me  col- 
lect these  few  specimens  of  dust." 

They  walked  to  where  the  gold  was 
divided,  the  dust  in  three  piles,  the  nuggets 
in  another,  and,  at  the  sight,  Dr.  Hammatt 
uttered  an  exclamation  of  wonder. 

"  Nice  specimens  ez  I  ever  see,"  Birkett 
remarked.  "  At  a  rough  reckon  I  should 
calculate  it  at  twelve  to  thirteen  hundred 
ounces — wuth  upwards  of  twenty-two,  or 
three,  thousand  dollars,  say." 

"  And  is  there  more  gravel  that  will  pay 
like  this  ?  "  Dr.  Hammatt  asked,  in  amaze- 
ment. 

*'  Doctor !  " — the  old  fellow's  face  worked 
nervously  for  a  moment,  then  he  blurted — 
*'  we're  all  rich ;  you,  the  Jedge,  the  Colonel, 
and  old  John  Birkett.  Yes,  sir;  I'm  so 
derned  rich  it  would  be  going  against  Provi- 
dence to  prospect  any  more;  but  what  I'll  do 


266  Fort  Birkett 

when  I  kain't  prospect  I  jest  naturally  try 
not  to  think  on." 

.While  Birkett  and  Lennox  collected  and 
packed  the  gold,  the  others  buried  the  men 
who  died  in  quarreling  over  it ;  and  then  the 
whole  party  started  out  for  the  ]\Ieadow. 
One  halt  was  made  while  Lennox,  helped  by 
two  of  the  prisoners,  brought  Ferris  from 
the  stronghold  to  the  trail;  where  Dr. 
Hammatt  contrived  a  litter  for  him  between 
two  of  the  prisoners'  horses. 

Events  at  the  iMeadow  had  brought  the 
sheriff  there,  and  he  took  charge  of  the 
prisoners,  much  to  the  reHef  of  the  doctor 
and  his  companions. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

A    FAIR    BARGAIN 

When,  during  some  pleasant  weeks  at  the 
Meadow,  the  business  of  incorporating  the 
"Birkett  Consolidated  Gold  Mining  Com- 
pany "  was  disposed  of,  Mr.  Pelham  turned 
his  attention  to  the  trial  of  the  bandits,  who 
had  been  promptly  indicted  upon  evidence 
a-bundantly  presented  to  the  grand  jury 
through  the  district  attorney. 

John  Birkett  was  the  chief  adviser  in  this 
matter.  He  it  was  who  urged  that  the 
charge  of  murder,  based  upon  the  death  of 
Indian  Sam  and  young  Anderson,  should  be 
dropped.  The  mountaineers,  who  would 
form  the  trial  jury,  sympathized  with  Evan- 
son  and  Taggert,  also  then  on  trial  in  an  ad- 
joining county;  and  to  try  the  accused  ban- 
dits for  the  crime  of  killing  Anderson  would 
267 


268  Fort  Birkett 

give  the  defense  an  excuse  to  relate  the  ban- 
dits' case  with  the  train  robbery. 

"  Stick  to  the  charge  of  gold  stealing, 
Jedge,"  urged  Birkett  to  Mr.  Pelham. 
"  Since  the  days  of  what  the  story  books 
calls  the  Argonauts,  a  miner's  pan  or  sack 
of  gold  hez  bin  what  ye  might  call  sacred 
property.  Horse  stealing  in  a  stock  country, 
and  gold  stealing  in  a  mining  country,  them 
hez  always  bin  crimes  easier  to  punish  a  man 
for,  than  for  taking  another  man's  life." 

In  the  preparation  of  his  address  to  the 
jury  Mr.  Pelham  was  again  advised  by  the 
old  miner.  "  Tech  'em  up  with  some  of 
them  words  ye're  so  handy  with,  Jedge.  A 
mountain  man  jest  naturally  do  love  beauti- 
ful language.  Their  ears  is  used  to  sounds 
ez  be  natural  poetry :  the  wind  singing  soft 
through  the  trees ;  brooks  that  make  sounds 
like  the  wood  instruments  the  fellow  plays 
in  the  theater ;  lullabys  ye  hear,  kind  of  mur- 
mur-like, when  ye  sleep  whar  the  night 
breeze  carries  the  music  of  a  far-off  water- 


A  Fair  Bargain  269 

fall.  Facts  is  a  good  thing  to  convince  a 
valley  man,  as  mostly  hears  nothing  more 
comfortable  than  a  railroad  train ;  but  ef  ye 
want  to  prove  a  thing  to  a  mountain  man, 
put  it  to  him  purty,  and  he'll  believe  ye — 
even  if  he  knows  ye're  lying." 

The  evidence  was  in ;  the  attorney  for  the 
defense  made  a  passionate  appeal  to  the  jury, 
and  then  Mr.  Pelham  rose  to  speak.  He 
talked  for  ten  minutes,  without  alluding  to 
the  case  on  trial ;  and  Lennox,  and  the  people 
from  the  Meadow,  began  showing  signs  of 
nervousness.  But  John  Birkett,  facing  the 
jury,  and  nodding  grave  approval  if  he 
chanced  to  meet  a  juryman's  eye,  grew  every 
minute  more  confident. 

"  Byron,  Shelley,  Wordsworth,  Long- 
fellow," murmured  Dr.  Hammatt,  checking 
off  the  authors  Mr.  Pelham  was  appropriat- 
ing liberally.  "  Will  he  never  reach  the 
case?  Keats,  Moore — how  he  quotes! 
What  a  prodigious  memory !  " 

Lennox,    sitting   near    the   table    behind 


270  Fort  Birkett 

which  Mr.  Pelham  stood,  began  to  shake 
with  suppressed  laughter.  When  he  could 
control  his  voice  he  whispered  to  Dr.  Ham- 
matt,  "  Those  are  not  law  books  spread  out 
before  Mr.  Pelham :  they  are  your  complete 
set  of  British  Poets !  " 

Having  exhausted  all  that  his  poets  had 
written  to  or  of  the  mountains,  Mr.  Pelham 
concluded  with  an  original  tribute  to  the 
"  majesty  and  grandeur  of  your  snow- 
capped cathedrals;  the  haunting  beauty  of 
your  heaven  -  canopied  canons!"  This 
caused  Lennox  to  bury  his  smiling  face  in 
his  hands ;  but  Birkett  murmured,  ''  He's 
fetched  the  twelfth  man !  " 

Mr.  Pelham,  also  having  discovered  that 
he  had  "  fetched  the  twelfth  man,"  sat  down ; 
and  in  five  minutes  a  verdict  was  returned : 
"  Guilty  as  charged." 

The  crowded  courtroom  cheered,  and 
spectators,  jury,  officials,  nearly  fought  in 
eagerness  to  shake  hands  with  Mr.  Pelham, 
and  assure  him  that  as  fine  and  strong  a  legal 


A  Fair  Bargain  271 

argument  had  never  before  been  heard  in 
the  country.  Miss  Hammatt  quietly 
gathered  up  the  poets  and  concealed  them. 

The  next  day,  the  party  having  returned 
to  the  Meadow,  Mr.  Pelham  announced  that 
business  he  could  no  longer  neglect  obliged 
him  to  go  to  New  York.  Birkett  urged  the 
lawyer  to  remain  longer.  "  Ye  oughtn't  to 
go,  Jedge,"  he  said;  ''  ye're  ten  years  younger 
already  since  ye  came  into  the  mountains; 
and  another  month  here  will  put  ye  in  the 
same  class,  for  age,  with  the  Colonel." 

^'I  shall  return,"  said  Mr.  Pelham;  ''I 
shall  come  again  before  snow,  to  see  how 
you  and  Mr.  Lennox  are  working  the 
mines." 

That  evening  Mr.  Pelham  and  Miss  Ham- 
matt  sat  under  the  great  pine  in  front  of  the 
house.  Inside,  the  doctor  was  reading;  in 
the  stables  Birkett  prepared  a  pack  train,  to 
start  out  in  the  morning  for  the  machinery 
of  a  sawmill  needed  to  get  out  lumber  for 
mining  flumes,  and  sluice  boxes;  down  the 


272  Fort  Birkett 

path,  toward  the  lower  end  of  the  Meadow, 
strolled  Constance  and  Lennox.  The  still 
air  was  sweet  with  mountain  odors,  and 
suffused  with  a  new  moon's  faint  light. 
Perhaps  it  was  the  fatigue  of  his  day's  work, 
or  the  mystery  hush  of  the  night,  that  made 
Mr.  Pelham  disinclined  to  speech ;  but  what- 
ever its  cause,  his  companion  seemed  not  to 
resent  his  silence — rather  to  sympathize  with 
it.  Birkett's  musical  voice  was  heard,  giv- 
ing final  instructions  to  the  colonists  who 
were  to  take  out  the  pack  train ;  the  doctor's 
movements,  between  the  reading  table  and 
book  shelves,  told  of  his  pursuits ;  but  under 
the  pine  the  couple  long  remained  idly 
silent. 

"Martha,"  Mr.  Pelham  at  last  said. 
She  turned  to  him  quietly.  ''  Martha,  I've 
been  thinking  that  the  trip  to  New  York  will 
be  a — a  task  to  me — if  I  go  alone." 

"  And  Fve  been  thinking,  De  Witt,  of  the 
same  thing." 


A  Fair  Bargain  273 

"  Thank  you,  Martha ;  I  never  before  pro- 
posed marriage,  and  lack,  no  doubt,  in  some 
of  the  graces  the  occasion  demands."  He 
took  her  hand,  and  kissed  it.  "  I  shall  speak 
to  your  father." 

"  I  will  go  with  you,"  she  said ;  and,  arm 
in  arm,  they  entered  the  house. 

Constance  and  Lennox  talked  more  gayly 
than  they  ever  did  before:  he  of  his  travels 
and  studies;  of  New  York,  his  birthplace, 
but  a  stranger  city  to  him;  how  he  should 
seek,  now  that  fortune  had  come,  to  establish 
for  himself  the  place  among  his  own  people 
which  his  father  had  held:  she  of  her  life 
in  the  mountains,  which  had  never  seemed 
lonely  until 

"  Until  ?  "  he  asked,  but  she  did  not  reply. 
"  Will  it  seem  lonely  when  I  am  gone  ?  My 
life,  even  in  the  great  city,  will  be  lonely, 
unless  " 

They  were  silent  until  they  came  to  the 
manzanita    thicket.      There    he    took    her 


274  Fort  Birkett 

hands,  and  said,  "  I  loved  you,  Constance, 
the  night  we  first  met  here.  Do  you  love 
me,  dear?  " 

In  the  little  sitting  room  Mr.  Pelham  and 
Martha  were  in  great  spirits,  and  Dr.  Ham- 
matt,  though  quieter  than  even  his  wont, 
smiled  affectionately  upon  his  daughter, 
seeing  her  happiness.  It  was  the  doctor  who 
noted  the  long  absence  of  the  young  people. 
"Where  are  Constance  and  Lennox?"  he 
asked. 

Even  as  he  spoke  they  entered,  hand  in 
hand:  Lennox  exultant,  and  Constance 
blushing. 

"  De  Witt,"  whispered  Miss  Hammatt, 
"  it  will  be  a  double  wedding !  " 

**My  granddaughter  has  my  consent,"  Dr. 
Hammatt  said,  when  Lennox  promptly 
asked  that  assurance  of  happiness.  "  But," 
he  added,  sadly,  though  his  fine  face  was 
brightened  by  the  joy  reflected  from  those 
about  him,  ''  you  gentlemen  are  not  fair 
traders  with  a  lonely  old  man.     You  find  for 


A  Fair  Bargain  275 

him  merely  a  fortune — you  take  from  him 
his  children !  " 

"Sir!"  declared  Mr.  Pelham,  "we  are 
more  than  fair:  we  throw  into  the  bargain 
two  dutiful  sons !  '* 

The  following  summer  Dr.  Hammatt  left 
his  books,  and  Birkett  his  mines,  to  travel  to- 
gether to  New  York,  for  the  christening  of 
Vanderlyn  Birkett  Lennox  and  Martha 
Hammatt  Pelham. 

In  dumb  wonder  John  Birkett  visited  with 
the  "  Colonel  "  the  sights  of  New  York;  was 
stricken  with  inward  terror  by  magic  shoots 
to  heights  of  towering  buildings;  by  mad 
whirls  through  insane  streets,  in  satanic 
vehicles  propelled  by  lightning;  marveled, 
until  mind-weary,  at  the  splendor  of  his 
friends'  homes,  their  servants,  their  luxuries, 
the  bewildering  beauty  of  "  Miss  Marthy's  " 
and  "  Miss  Connie's  "  gowns ;  was  fairly 
dazed  when  a  great  financier,  at  Mr.  Pel- 
ham's  table,  paid  him  marked  attention ;  say- 


276  Fort  Birkett 

ing  that  the  street  had  been  favorably  affected 
by  the  bulHon  output  of  Camp  Birkett. 

His  greatest  hour  of  triumph  was  when 
Mrs.  Lennox  slyly  induced  him  to  tell,  be- 
fore a  roomful  of  splendid  men  and  women, 
the  story  of  his  dismissal  as  a  nurse,  by  Mrs. 
De  Witt  Pelham.  He  told  the  story  to  such 
applause  as  frightened  him,  at  first;  but  he 
grew  accustomed  to  it  before  the  end  of  his 
visit,  for  Constance  demanded  the  story 
whenever  she  had  an  audience  for  him. 
The  unvarying  conclusion,  which  was  re- 
ceived with  an  enthusiasm  the  old  miner 
never  understood,  was,  "  So  I  hustles  in  the 
Jedge,  with  a  bullet  through  his  arm,  and  I 
starts  to  dressing  of  the  wound.  Miss 
Marthy,  she  comes  up,  and  she  says  to  me, 
*John  Birkett,'  says  she,  'stick  to  yer 
rifle.  Nursing  the  wounded  is  woman's 
work.'  Well,  she  located  the  Jedge  right 
then  and  thar;  and  neither  the  Jedge  nor 
Miss  Marthy  hez  set  up  no  conflicting  loca- 
tion since,  I  reckon," 


A  Fair  Bargain  277 

When  the  visitors  set  forth  for  the  moun- 
tains again,  Birkett  was  in  charge  of  a  car- 
load of  house  furnishings  which  he  was 
directed  to  transport  to  the  Meadow  if  he 
had  to  build  a  wagon  road  to  do  it.  He  de- 
clared that  he  meant  to  build  a  road,  any- 
way, so  that  the  youngsters  might  reach  the 
Meadow.  He  intended  to  see  them  once  a 
year,  but  would  not  again  risk  mind  and 
life  by  a  visit  to  New  York. 

So,  each  summer  the  little  ones  and  their 
parents  visit  the  old  home,  now  enlarged  by 
quaintly  straggling  additions,  where  the 
doctor  in  serene  old  age,  and  Birkett  with  in- 
creasing gentleness,  welcome  them. 

John  Birkett's  pleasure  is  to  teach  Con- 
stance's boy  to  ride;  to  show  him  the  Meadow 
trails  which  lead  to  quiet  retreats  of  deer ;  to 
know  the  rocks,  the  trees,  the  harmony  of 
music  and  incense  revealed  only  to  those  who 
know  and  love  the  mountains. 

THE   END. 


M271 14 


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